Armed with a car (a rarity in New York) and a lot of curiosity, travel writer Mia Kim reports back with stories from here, there, and everywhere! Today, she takes us to the weird and wonderful world of the High Desert Test Sites in Joshua Tree, CA.
An art collector, a gallerist, two artists, and a curator came together wanting to provide an outlet where contemporary creatives could express their vision, without the compromising restrictions of a museum or art gallery. As a result the High Desert Test Sites were born. Hidden among the dusty roads and spiny Joshua trees of California’s High Desert communities, these experimental art projects are unusual and wondrous. The unexpected, obscure locations only add to their sense of curiosity.
For the ultimate kitsch fix, a visit to the World Famous Crochet Museum is in order. Packed into 40-square feet of an old Fotomat booth, this candy-colored assortment of crocheted dolls, potholders, and wall hangings is the creation of artist Shari Elf who began curating the collection in 2007. Lined up against one window is an impressive gathering of pastel poodles that, upon closer inspection, reveal themselves to be wine bottle cozies. The grinning googly-eyed creatures have smiles that are contagious. This tiny treasure is kind of what dreams are made of.
Not too far up Highway 62 is another High Desert Test Site called Behind the Bail Bonds and it is located exactly where the name suggests. Take a short hike up the hill to find Sarah Vanderlip’s Untitled nestled between brittle shrubs and sandy boulders. This installation is comprised of two welded aluminum truck heads that reflect the surrounding expanse of rocky terrain and the perfectly clear sky. What appears is a gleaming egg-shaped orb of magic in the middle of an otherwise barren landscape.
The final stop on this HDTS excursion is an even more out-of-the-way destination, Noah Purifoy’s Outdoor Desert Art Museum. At first glance, what looks like just another junkyard is actually 7.5 acres of assemblage sculptures, thoughtfully built by the artist from 1989 until his death in 2004. Castoff building materials and salvaged wood have been repurposed into the numerous fort-like structures, some of which are open for exploration. Archaic electronic appliances, battered furniture, and neon signs provide decorative touches. As everything was placed out in the open air, Purifoy welcomed the desert weather to have its natural effect on his work, which has decayed somewhat gracefully over time.
HIGH DESERT TEST SITE HEADQUARTERS
6470 Veterans Way
Joshua Tree, CA
MAP
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Enter the High Desert Test Sites!
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"World Famous"
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An art collector, a gallerist, two artists, and a curator came together wanting to provide an outlet where contemporary creatives could express their vision, without the compromising restrictions of a museum or art gallery. As a result the High Desert Test Sites were born. Hidden among the dusty roads and spiny Joshua trees of California’s High Desert communities, these experimental art projects are unusual and wondrous. The unexpected, obscure locations only add to their sense of curiosity.
For the ultimate kitsch fix, a visit to the World Famous Crochet Museum is in order. Packed into 40-square feet of an old Fotomat booth, this candy-colored assortment of crocheted dolls, potholders, and wall hangings is the creation of artist Shari Elf who began curating the collection in 2007. Lined up against one window is an impressive gathering of pastel poodles that, upon closer inspection, reveal themselves to be wine bottle cozies. The grinning googly-eyed creatures have smiles that are contagious. This tiny treasure is kind of what dreams are made of.
Not too far up Highway 62 is another High Desert Test Site called Behind the Bail Bonds and it is located exactly where the name suggests. Take a short hike up the hill to find Sarah Vanderlip’s Untitled nestled between brittle shrubs and sandy boulders. This installation is comprised of two welded aluminum truck heads that reflect the surrounding expanse of rocky terrain and the perfectly clear sky. What appears is a gleaming egg-shaped orb of magic in the middle of an otherwise barren landscape.
The final stop on this HDTS excursion is an even more out-of-the-way destination, Noah Purifoy’s Outdoor Desert Art Museum. At first glance, what looks like just another junkyard is actually 7.5 acres of assemblage sculptures, thoughtfully built by the artist from 1989 until his death in 2004. Castoff building materials and salvaged wood have been repurposed into the numerous fort-like structures, some of which are open for exploration. Archaic electronic appliances, battered furniture, and neon signs provide decorative touches. As everything was placed out in the open air, Purifoy welcomed the desert weather to have its natural effect on his work, which has decayed somewhat gracefully over time.
HIGH DESERT TEST SITE HEADQUARTERS
6470 Veterans Way
Joshua Tree, CA
MAP
Enter the High Desert Test Sites!
"World Famous"
