Artists of all sorts from nearly every continent have found their way to the California desert. Some of the cabins belonged to people working in the up and coming movie and television industry as a get away. Other homesteads were just that and were home to "desert rats," a colloquial term for the disheveled. Even today some of the shacks look as though someone left in a hurry, leaving behind traces of the 1950's. Despite the lack of fences property is property and we ask that you leave it as you found it. Throughout the US you will find communities of shacks that represent the dreams of its inhabitants. And even today you can find "free" property in the shadows of progress, destined to stay a place of solitude.
Local artist Chris Carraher's dream of an arts festival that focused on the history and legacy of the Homestead Act of 1938 that spawned the cabins that dot the desert landscape came to reality in a big way. Wonder Valley Arts presented the Wonder Valley Homestead Cabin Festival in February and March 2008. The goal was to discover the history, celebrate the culture and strengthen the community of Wonder Valley through the arts.
The Wonder Valley Homestead Cabin Festival was organized by the Homestead Cabinet (Andy Woods along with festival featured artists Chris Carraher and Scott Monteith.) It included happenings at the Fi-Lox-See Gallery and the Palms Restaurant in Wonder Valley. In association with the festival artists Diane Best and Mary Austin-Klein created a show that was presented at Trader Jeff's in Twentynine Palms called the Shack Appreciation Show 'SAS'. Wonder Valley artist Helena Bongarts' ongoing weekly cabin light show was also featured in the events for the festival. To view the official blog of the festival that includes history, event photos, happenings, all the participating artists(there's a bunch!) and presenters visit http://homesteadcabin.wordpress.com/
The Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council, Inc was a sponsor of the festival.
- Scott Monteith
Friday, April 18, 2008
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