Day 2: Chasing art for Desert X 19

Day 2: Chasing art for Desert X 19

THB and DB at Halter by Eric Mack; DB is holding some flotsam found at the dead gas station

Weather: Low to high 50s, clear, mild breezes

Yesterday's Weather: Thursday was the third-wettest day ever at Palm Springs International Airport, records from the National Weather Service show. Valentine's Day will be remembered as the wettest day in 76 years in Palm Springs. The city officially received 3.69 inches.

Yesterday's Quizzes: The amount of rain was a trick question of sorts. Historically, Palm Springs averages around 5.5 inches of rain per year. From 2013-16 it was 2 inches per year average. In the last 6 weeks, Palm Springs has had close to 5 inches of rain. 

As for disasters/emergencies: THB, Palm Springs and the USA all qualify, just pick the two you think are closer to the truther. 

THB is up early, visits the ultra-nice fitness center, and DB and THB have biscotti and decaf in the room. 

Shower and tub share a room, THB shaves in shower because there's a mirror

The main entrance to the Ritz (the property is huge)

Our first installation of the day

Painted rebar...not too creative

Meet FB and BB at a breakfast restaurant across the street from their hotel. The food is not great. THB and DB's share: $35. 

Bland soy-rizo scramble, bland biscuit, bland potatoes

In the back of FB and BB's hotel

FB is driving and BB and DB share navigating responsibilities. THB is gazing out the window or looking at his spreadsheet of Desert X 19 sites to visit. We head to the top of the Salton Sea, about 50 minutes or so driving. 

From here, it's mostly pics:

Fabric draped over a dead gas station in Mecca, CA

Still from one of three videos on the boat installation running interspersed with Visitor Center videos on Salton Sea

There are performances here on Sat & Sun...hmmmm...in the muck?

Two more Wormholes: empty storefronts re-purposed

Each one appears to have a TV (some playing, some not) and a "Moved to another location" sign in red

At the second hub, in Indio, we stop to see if local knowledge is available. A lunch spot, the Mexicali Cafe, is highly recommended. And, the best way to see the painted water tower by Armando Lerma is from I-10. 

The 2nd info hub; seemingly more informed, another illusion of Desert X 19

The lunch tip

Chile rellenos

Lunch is pretty basic and DB has an excellent chicken salad, THB chile rellenos and FB and BB split 3 large soft tacos. Lunch for the two of us, with one iced tea, $35. Very authentic to E-ville: the cafe is right next to the train tracks and the place rumbles periodically as freight motors by.

Local knowledge for the water tower is missing one small detail: yes you can see it from I-10, thus avoiding traveling on dirt roads. However the next exit on I-10 East is 22 miles away! Fortunately, THB is able to get pics on our return west. 

Can't get close (dirt roads) so this is shot out back of the SUV moving at 65mph after a 40 mile detour

Back to Palm Desert and we split up, planning to meet in Palm Springs for a nice dinner. THB and DB make it to another installation. 

Former residence of Annebergs, now the Sunnylands Center and Gardens

Film set prop????

Unintelligible art speak...the worst of the worst

Something to do with a succulent garden????

Copper pipe???

On the way back to the Ritz we re-route as Frank Sinatra Drive is washed out (only about 1 mile from the Ritz). 

Sinatra washout

After 1/2 hour research on access, these are the other washouts for today:

- Western Flag by John Gerrard, Palm Springs. This is a digital simulation of an installation in Texas

- Jacktail, etc. by Cara Romero, Palm Springs. This is a series of 5 billboards

- Another Wormhole

- Peace is the Only Shelter by Mary Kelly, Palm Springs. 3 bus shelters (E-ville does the same with local artists putting up art in E-ville bus shelters)

We're hoping for access tomorrow...stay tuned.

Made out of discarded flip-flops that washed up on the beach; THB could've had a side business all those years picking trash up at the beach

FB and BB head towards Palm Springs before we do and give us a heads up: the road to Palm Springs is totally jammed, traffic not moving in either direction. We agree to not meet in Palm Springs for dinner. We make reservations for four at the casual dining spot in the Ritz in case they reverse directions, and our intrepid art chasers join us for dinner.

Sorry, no pics of the meal: batter-fried avocado, tortilla soup, arugula salad, two pastas in olive oil, one burger with sweet potato fries, one poke salad, 3 drinks, one glass of wine, $240 for four.

We share a bar of Oakland chocolate (70% with almonds and too much salt), and say goodbye, tomorrow we'll each be heading home (roads willing) after a bit more art chasing. There is a chance of a meet-up as we have rezzies at 10 and 10:30 at an installation that only allows 8 in at a time.