One of Rancho Mirage’s most-loved events is back with a rejuvenated look and concept, reflecting the warm elegance the city is known for. Formerly titled Rancho Mirage Art Affaire, the new Festival of the Arts blends the sophistication of a museum exhibition with the joy of being outdoors. Thirty handpicked artists from across Southern California, Texas, and the Pacific Northwest were invited to showcase their most recent work in the genres of glass, ceramics, textiles, photography, painting, sculpture, and digital. Get to know the artists, learn the stories behind their creations, and see artwork being made. Maybe even commission a piece for your home!
Two local innovators, Kim Manfredi and Tim Shockley, are the 2022 Featured Artists. A dedicated long-distance cyclist, Manfredi’s large-scale abstract paintings draw inspiration from desert landscapes glimpsed while riding at a swift pace. Juxtaposing rich, vibrant color against misty pastels, the paintings convey the rush and pleasing disorientation of forward movement.
Shockley attributes his creative exploration to growing up in the Coachella Valley before shopping malls, cell phones, and computers. “You were forced to be an individual because you weren’t inundated with other things. That’s why my art is a little different. I had to find my own path,” he says.
He’ll be bringing selections from his “Taming the Wild West” series, organic shapes of tumbleweeds woven from gold plate and barbed wire, appearing simultaneously fragile and fossilized. He’ll complement the tumbleweeds with his eclectic range of paintings and sculpture, designing his installation on the spot.
As longtime fans know, musical exploration has always been a highlight of the weekend. Jazz and blues bands fill the air with danceable tunes throughout the day, while Saturday’s “Jazz Under the Stars” concert carries the party into the evening. The LA-based Goodfellas Jazz Band takes the amphitheater stage at 5:30pm, flowing into the Amanda Castro Band, known for reinterpreting contemporary music in a high-energy vintage style.
The Festival and all performances are free to attend, and the City of Rancho Mirage is pleased to offer free valet parking.
Make a day of this fun, fresh event. Enjoy lunch from some of Rancho Mirage’s most popular restaurants including Babe’s Bar-B-Que & Brewhouse, Haus of Poké, Wally’s Desert Turtle, and the city’s newest addition, Dragon Lili Boba Bar. Sip an art-themed cocktail from LULU California Bistro or discover a favorite wine at the Rancho Mirage Rotary’s wine lounge or their beer garden featuring Babe’s BBQ and Brewery’s Honey Blonde Ale. Watch glass beads emerge from a kiln, glittering in the sun, as you relax under a colorful canopy, surrounded by mountain views in all directions. November is the desert’s season of reawakening — come to Rancho Mirage and be inspired!
Event Date :
Saturday, November 5, 2022, 10am-6pm. Free concert from 5:30pm-8:30pm in the Rancho Mirage Amphitheater.
Sunday, November 6, 2022, 10am-4pm
