Now showing at the 29 Palms Inn
Valerie Davis & Patricia Knight
July 26 - September 27, 2015
Valerie Davis
Valerie Davis is a resident of Joshua Tree, and has been living here for the past twelve years. Davis is originally from Yuma, AZ, but she moved here from Scottsdale. This multi-faceted artist creates "glue" paintings, using acrylic paint and hot glue. Her interest in translucent color is a unifying theme in all the work she creates.
For the past 20 years Valerie has been working within the format of the Mandala. She starts with the geometry, usually a circle, and builds a design with abstracted figurative elements. Her themes are centered on man's interdependent relationship with the earth, and her designs are inspired by southwestern rock art as well as pre-Columbian art that she has seen in her travels.
Valerie creates unique textures using molding paste and hot glue and other materials. She builds up layers of glue, often layering the glue over a base layer of iridescent pigments. The final layer is translucent acrylic paint. These textures become an important visual element in the finished paintings. Lately Valerie has been using photos of plants, rocks or other natural forms collages and covered in textured. Color treatments are evocative of light shining through stained glass.
Valerie Davis has been an artist all her life. She has an uncle on her father's side who is a wood turner, and creates beautiful wood turned bowls and vessels. Before she had the studio she works in today, she worked in a tiny walk out closet, with just enough room for a desk and a single light bulb hanging overhead. As she says, "I came out of the closet -literally- with my art."
Connect with Valerie on Facebook for regular updates about new projects and exhibits!
Patricia Knight
Patricia Knight is a professional photographer based in Joshua Tree, CA. Native to California, Patricia grew up in Orange County. She moved to the desert in 1995 to raise her daughter as a widowed mother. Trained through the New York Institute of Photography and Fashion Institute of Design (FIDM), her love for interior/digital/media arts grew. These interests–visual media and nature–came together for her and she carries out her passion with visits to Joshua Tree National Park.
With the Joshua Tree National Park being her playground and muse, Patricia is currently working on documenting the unique Joshua trees she adores. She plans to publish a book documenting the beauty of night photography in the park as a means of preserving the deserts dark and mysterious skies.
Patricia says that while the camera and lens are the tools of her creative trade, the real magic happens in the digital darkroom. She focuses on color, a powerful element in triggering an emotional response, and works on highlighting the colors of the desert to bring to fruition the piece of work she envisioned in her mind, long before capturing the image.
For fun, Patricia loves taking road trips and camping in the great outdoors with her family. Throw in some organic gardening, fixing up her vehicle, cooking from scratch and hiking in Joshua Tree National Park — her days are pretty complete.
Visit Patricia's website and check out her full portfolio!
Be sure to visit both artists at the 14th annual Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours!
Now in it's 14th year the Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours has become one of the biggest art events in the high desert, with more than 140 local artists set to particiapte this year. Visitors find themselves fascinated not only by the quality and diversity of the art they see, but also by the unique experiences they have as they travel along both highway and dusty dirt roads while visiting the studios. For many visitors this is a chance to experience first hand the behind-the-scenes creativity of this thriving art community, inspired by its incredible wide-open sky, amazing rock formations and unique wildlife reminiscent of the Wild West.
Visit the MBCAC website for more information about the Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours!
The Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization whose mission is to inspire and enliven the community through the arts, and to enhance the cultural and economic health of the region. Building community through the arts, the Arts Council continues to be a leading source of information, inspiration and energy for artists and patrons throughout the Morongo Basin and beyond.
The Art in Public Places program allows MBCAC members the opportunity to show their artwork at a variety of venues throughout the Morongo Basin, including here at the 29 Palms Inn restaurant.
