List of public art in Palm Desert, California facts for kids

Palm Desert, California, is a city that loves art! All around the city, you can find amazing sculptures and artworks displayed in public places. This is called public art, and it's art that everyone can see and enjoy for free, usually outdoors. It's different from art you might see inside a museum or a church. Palm Desert has many cool pieces of public art, from giant statues to colorful benches, making the city feel like a huge outdoor art gallery!

Cool Artworks in Palm Desert

Palm Desert is home to many unique and interesting public art pieces. These artworks are often found in parks, along streets, or near important buildings. They help make the city beautiful and give people something fun to look at as they explore.

Art in Civic Center Park

Civic Center Park is a popular spot in Palm Desert, and it's also a great place to see a lot of public art. Many sculptures are located here, making it a fantastic outdoor art walk.

• Balance by William Disbro: This sculpture is made of shiny stainless steel and shows a person riding a bike. It's a cool piece that makes you think about staying balanced in life.
• Colleagues by William Disbro: Also by William Disbro, this artwork from 1991 is made of brushed stainless steel. It features two parts, showing figures that seem to be working or standing together.
• Coyote Benches by Ben Watling: These aren't just benches; they're art! Made of concrete, these five benches are shaped in a way that reminds you of coyotes, which are common animals in the desert.
• Danseur by Jean-Louis Corby: This sculpture in the park is called "Danseur," which means "dancer" in French. It captures the graceful movement of a dancer.
• Desert Dessert by Michael Anderson: Created in 1991, this large painted steel sculpture is quite big, measuring 19 by 15 by 56 feet! Its name makes you wonder what kind of "dessert" it represents.
• Desert Flower/Star by Robert Perless: This artwork from 1992 includes two sculptures made of welded aluminum with colorful prisms. They look like a desert flower or a star.
• Desert Holocaust Memorial by Dee Clements: This powerful memorial from 1995 is a large bronze sculpture with a marble and black granite base. It honors those who suffered during the Holocaust.
• The Dreamer by David Phelps: This bronze sculpture from 1989 is located in Civic Center Plaza. It shows a figure that looks like it's dreaming or deep in thought.
• Happy Swinging by Monyo Mihailescu-Nasturel: Located near the YMCA in Civic Center Park, this bronze sculpture shows someone happily swinging, bringing a sense of joy to the park.
• Memorial Community Walk by Howard and Kathleen, Meehan: This walk in the park is made of ceramic, concrete, and stone. It's a special place for remembering people and events.
• Messenger of the Puul by Curt Mattson: This bronze sculpture from 1991 is quite large, standing over 9 feet tall. It features a figure that seems to be a messenger.
• Midstream by J. Seward Johnson, Jr.: This bronze sculpture is painted and gilded, showing a scene that looks like it's happening "midstream" or in the middle of an activity.
• Mother/Child Sculpture Garden by Lisa Reinertson: This area in Civic Center Park is dedicated to sculptures that celebrate the bond between a mother and child.
• Peace Memorial by Marton Varo: Created in 1992, this memorial is made of white Carrara marble and black granite. It's a symbol of peace in the park.
• Proceed with Caution by Gary Alsum: Found at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center within Civic Center Park, this artwork might make you think about safety around water.
• Recreation Liberties by Jos Golmolka: Located at the Community Center in Civic Center Park, this piece celebrates the freedom and joy of recreation.
• The Reed Gatherer by Tom Knapp: This bronze sculpture is part of a basin, showing a figure gathering reeds.
• Self-Preservation Revised by Edward Pogue: This tall bronze sculpture, over 11 feet high, makes you think about how we protect ourselves.
• Sunflower and Snowbirds by Sharles: These two bronze reliefs with a special green finish are shaped like sunflowers, bringing a touch of nature to the park.
• Swim, Dive, Play by Paul Hobson: Another artwork at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center, this piece celebrates swimming, diving, and playing in the water.
• Today by Brian Gottlieb and Rob Pitchford: This large sculpture is made of stainless steel and painted iron, with a concrete and Corian base. It's a modern piece that makes you think about the present moment.

Art Along the Streets and Other Locations

Public art isn't just in parks; you can find it all over Palm Desert!

• Agave by Gordon Huether: This sculpture is located at San Pascual and Fred Waring Drive. Agave plants are common in the desert, and this artwork celebrates their unique shape.
• Baja Palapa by Donna Billick & Arthur Gonzalez: Found at Fred Waring Drive and Primrose, this artwork might remind you of a "palapa," which is an open-sided dwelling with a thatched roof, often found in Mexico.
• Bighorn by Peter Madson, Curt Mattson, Shel McAdams: This bronze sculpture is located at the Bighorn Golf Club. It's a large piece, over 6 feet tall, showing a bighorn sheep, an animal native to the desert mountains.
• Charger by Ted Gall: This sculpture is found in the El Paseo median. It's made of painted and fabricated steel on a special steel base, showing a powerful "charger" or horse.
• Cliff Henderson by Henry McCann: This bronze sculpture from 1978 is on the El Paseo median. It honors Cliff Henderson, an important person in the history of Palm Desert.
• Diegueno by Christina Beresford: Created in 1968, this artwork in Waring Plaza is a large circular piece made of colored concrete, measuring 20 feet across. It's named after the Diegueno Native American people.
• In Praise of Cahuilla Baskets by Michael Watling: This artwork from 1992 is at Nothing Bundt Cakes. It's a large sculpture made of steel and colored concrete, celebrating the beautiful basket weaving of the Cahuilla people, who are local Native Americans.
• Lake Cahuilla Palms by Larry & Nancy Cush: Located at the Coachella Valley Water District, this artwork features mosaic and palm trees, connecting to the local environment and water resources.
• The Markers by Otto Rigan: These six markers from 1992 are found at the Indian Ridge Country Club. They are made of Utah sandstone and mirrored glass, ranging in height from 4 to 11 feet.
• Men and Women of Steel by Steven L. Rieman: This unique sculpture from 1995 is at the Palm Desert Corporation Yard. It's made from recycled materials like a stop sign and sweeper broom wire, showing figures made of "steel."
• Music by Leonard Nierman: Located at the McCallum Theatre, this polished aluminum sculpture is about 12 feet tall and represents music.
• Neoglyphs by Michael Watling: These 35 pieces of Arizona sandstone from 1993 are at the Palm Desert Civic Center. "Neoglyphs" are like new rock carvings, similar to ancient petroglyphs.
• Palm Desert Obelisk by Marlo Bartels: Created around 1995, this tall structure is in the center median of Avenue of the States at Washington. It's made of ceramic tile over concrete and stands 21 feet high.
• For Our Freedom by Romo Studios: This memorial is located at Freedom Park and honors veterans.
• Passing it Along by Dee Clements: This bronze sculpture from 1993 is at the Joslyn Center. It shows figures passing something along, symbolizing sharing knowledge or traditions.
• Portals by Harold L. Pastorius: This steel sculpture from 1977 is at the College of the Desert. It's a large piece, 10 by 17 feet, that looks like "portals" or gateways.
• Pulled Up Prince by Gary Price: This sculpture is located at Fred Waring Drive and Town Center Way. Its name suggests a playful scene.
• Rising to Dawn by Peter Ladochy: This artwork is at 72875 Fred Waring Drive. It's made of stone, tile, glass, and wood, and it's mounted on a cement board, perhaps showing the beauty of a desert sunrise.
• The Roadrunner by Allen Root: This artwork is at 78000 Fred Waring Drive. It features a roadrunner, a fast bird that lives in the desert.
• Saturday Morning by Art Myers: This bronze sculpture from 1990 is at the College Golf Center. It shows two figures, a male and a female, perhaps enjoying a relaxed Saturday morning.
• The Seed by Steven Zaluski and Elizabeth Mapelli: This artwork from 1991 is at the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences. It's a large sculpture made of bronze, glass, and ceramic tiles, with a basin, symbolizing growth and new beginnings.
• Sunrise Sunset by Norman P. Hines: This large sculpture from 1991 is at the corner of Highway 74 and Haystack. It's made of desert red granite and represents the beautiful sunrises and sunsets in the desert.
• Untitled by Marlo Bartels, Palm Deily, and Eric Johnson: This ceramic tile artwork from 1989 is at OneWest Bank. It's a large piece, over 9 feet tall and 8 feet wide.
• Untitled by Brian Painter: This weathering steel sculpture from 1991 is at Albert Management Inc. It's a very large and heavy piece, weighing 10,000 pounds!
• Walking Man by Jon Krawczyk: This sculpture shows a walking figure, located near 33°43'N, 116°23'30'W.
• Wisdom Given by Alexander Bashta III: This artwork is located at the Palm Desert Dental Center. It might represent the idea of wisdom being shared or passed down.

Images for kids

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  Memorial Community Walk

See also

• List of public art in Palm Springs, California