Palm Springs Art Museum, 3/31/3016

After seeing a brochure for the Palm Springs Art Museum, I wanted to be sure to visit while we are in the area. Founded in 1938, the Museum has three locations: The Art Museum on Museum Drive in Palm Springs, the Architecture and Design Center on South Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, and the Galen and Fay Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden in Palm Desert. We went to the one on Museum Drive that has free admission on Thursdays, 4:00 to 8:00 pm. I always love a good deal (and love art museums, as well)!  

Also located at this location is the: Annenberg Theater (433-seat) venue that presents music, dance, dramatic entertainment, and more; The Muse Cafe, and The Museum Store. Free parking is available in lots on either side of the building. 

The first shot is the front of the Art Museum. I loved this first piece, Yoshitomo Nara, Your Day (2002) fiberglass statue, we saw in the lobby on the Main Level.

We picked up a Visitors Map and started our visit Upper Floor at the Modern and Contemporary Art Exhibit. 

Duane Hanson, Old Couple on a Bench (1995) bronze and mixed media.

Louis Bourgeois, Spider II (1995) bronze.   James Surls, Shovel Man (1974) wood.

Frederick Eversley, Red Lens (1983) cast polyester resin

Robert Therrien, no title/stacked plates (2007) plastic.   

Erwin Wurn, Fat Car (2001), metallic paint, styrofoam and polyester

The Modern and Contemporary Glass Art is on the Mezzanine Level. 

We have come to really appreciate the beautiful glass works by Chihuly and have seen many of them in various art museums across the country. However, all of these pieces are just gorgeous...the photos do not do them justice.

Vladimira Klympa, Hold (2013) and Depth of Water (2015), cast glass

Karen LaMonte, Pianists Dress Impression (2005) cast glass

Thermal Staton, untitled, plate glass and mixed media

Dale Chihula, End of the Day #2 (1996) blown glass with steel armature

Also on the Mezzanine Level is the museum's impressive Mesoamerican collection. 

Mezcala and Chontal style mask carvings (1200 BCS - 250 CE) obsidian, marble, jadeite

Seated Figure w/Crossed Arms and Zoomorphic vessel (200 BCE-500 CE), clay

On the Main Level are various exhibits, both temporary and permanent. While I am not a huge fan of modern art, we both liked this sculpture by Barbara Hepworth, Two Forms with White (1969) bronze, patina, white paint.

Here are some pieces in the Reflections in Water exhibit (September 19, 2015-September 4, 2017). Below is an assortment of Native American water vessels, Tribal Rain Dance by O.E.L. Graves (1960) brass, and Where Rain Gods Rest by John W. Hilton (1966) oil on canvas.

Moving onto the Western Art exhibit, John and I both loved these bronze sculptures: To Custer's Death by George Montgomery (1977) bronze and polychrome decoration, Settlin' the Dust by Pat Haptonstall (1987) bronze, and The Legend Lives by Bill Nebeker (1988) bronze.

This museum has many beautiful Native American basketry (Apache, Pomo, and Cahilla), beaded bowls (Paiute), pottery (Maria Martinez Black-on-Black Plate (1930) and Bowl (1925), matte-on-blackware), textiles (Navajo Crystal Rug, natural handspun wool and red dye), and Zuni Inlaid jewelry. 

Modern Art Collection: I am always excited to see an Andrew Wyeth painting (Afternoon Light, (1938) watercolor on paper) in the Contemporary Art section of a museum far from home (Chester County, PA), where the Wyeths have lived for several generations. It's interesting to see these owl pieces by Pablo Picasso (Angry Owl (1950) bronze and Owl (1951) glazed and etched earthenware). Marc Chagall's work on ceramic tile (The Village) painted in 1952 is one of only about a dozen works he created on tile. 

These large bronze sculptures were also on the main floor (along with many others) and the third outside near the entrance to the museum. They are Reclining Figure by Henry Moore (1956) bronze; Water Nymphs by Henri Lauren (1934) bronze; and The Warrior by Marino Marini (1959-60) bronze.

The Edward S. Curtis: One Hundred Masterworks is an exhibit on display February 20 through May 29, 2016. Curtis (1868-1952) created a monumental photographic history of the Indians of North America. Twenty volumes with twenty portfolios in each were published as handmade books with 2,200 photographs that he took over three decades. This exhibit includes the "most compelling and rare" photographs of his collection...very powerful. No photos were permitted in the gallery by Museum visitors. This exhibit alone is a worth a visit to this museum.

The Elrod Sculpture Garden is located on the lower level. 

Be sure to visit the Museum Store where there is an interesting array of beautiful items for sale. We only picked up some postcards but loved the jewelry, scarves, ceramics, children's toys, and wonderful collection of art books there. This is a beautiful mid-sized art museum; we enjoyed the exhibits very much. For information about exhibits, hours of operation, admission fees, as well as their two other locations, see museum's website.

Website: www.psmuseum.org