Message from Ron Brady:
“Warhol in the Park” – a Valley-wide arts and education community event aimed at engaging area students with the work of iconic pop-art artist Andy Warhol – takes place this Saturday, April 7, 2018 in Old Town La Quinta – marking the event’s inaugural showing in the East Valley.
Students from La Quinta and throughout the Coachella Valley are invited to participate in this free event. The curriculum, led by La Quinta’s own Old Town Artisan Studios in partnership with the Palm Springs Art Museum, includes a brief introduction to the life and work of Andy Warhol followed by the students painting their own interpretations of notable Warhol pieces including “Marilyn,” “Campbell’s Soup” and others. “It’s a way of allowing students to get their hands and hearts ‘involved’ and ‘doing’ art,” offers Victory Grund, curriculum lead.
Previous “Warhol in the Park” events in Palm Desert and Palm Springs hosted some 300+ children and aspiring artists. As with the previous events, the students’ work from the April 7th event will be exhibited on large art walls on display at the venue.
“Warhol in the Park“ runs in conjunction with the Palm Springs Art Museum’s current exhibition – Andy Warhol: Prints From The Collections Of Jordan D. Schnitzer And His Family Foundation – on display at the museum’s Palm Springs location through May 28th. Families of students participating in the La Quinta “Warhol in the Park” event on April 7th will receive free admission to the exhibition. Children 18 and under are always admitted to the Palm Springs Art Museum at no charge.
“More than ever, there is such a need to keep kids interested and involved in the arts,” remarks Thomas Burns, Executive Director of Old Town Artisan Studios – Education Partner for “Warhol in the Park” and host of the La Quinta event. “Our mission has been to support and enhance art programs in the Coachella Valley that have been dramatically cut in funding or all together eliminated. The ‘Warhol in the Park’ program is really focused on the educational art experience for kids! It’s a perfect fit for us!”
“It saddens me that many of the children in the Coachella Valley no longer have access to art classes and arts education,” says Jordan D. Schnitzer, who along with His Family Foundation, is the Presenting Sponsor of ‘Warhol in the Park’… “so, we’re taking Warhol to the kids!”
Old Town Artisan Studios is located in La Quinta’s Old Town at 78046 Calle Barcelona. The event opens at 1pm with curriculum and painting starting at 1:45pm.
El Paseo Jewelers serves as “Warhol in the Park” Title Sponsor. Education Partners include: Old Town Artisan Studios, City of Palm Desert, CODA Gallery, Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs, California Desert Arts Council and The Bianca Rae Foundation. “Warhol in the Park” is a Palm Springs Life event.
About Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation: At age 14, Jordan D. Schnitzer bought his first work of art from his mother’s Portland, Oregon contemporary art gallery, evolving into his lifelong avocation as collector. He began collecting contemporary prints and multiples in earnest in 1988. Today, the collection exceeds 10,000 works and includes many of today’s most important contemporary artists. It has grown to be one of the country’s largest private print collections overall. He generously lends work from his collection to qualified institutions and has organized over 100 exhibitions at more than 100 museums. Mr. Schnitzer is also President of Harsch Investment Properties, a privately owned real estate investment company based in Portland, Oregon, with 25 million square feet of office, multi-tenant industrial, multi-family and retail properties in six western states. For more information about the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation, please visit jordanschnitzer.org.
About Palm Springs Art Museum:
Palm Springs Art Museum is the largest cultural institution in the Coachella Valley and includes three locations in Palm Springs and Palm Desert. The flagship building, located in downtown Palm Springs, features compelling art exhibitions, a vast permanent collection, and the Annenberg Theater, all in a 150,000 square foot, architecturally–significant building. Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center, Edwards Harris Pavilion, features exhibitions and programming that explore the rich topics of architecture and design. Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert is an 8,400 square foot, Silver LEED–certified building named The Galen featuring rotating exhibitions and special collections. The Galen is surrounded by the four–acre Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden. Admission to the Palm Desert location is free, generously underwritten by Helene V. Galen.