Joining Forces

For those artists who haven't submitted their Art Tours application yet, the deadline is April 6th!  This year, like last year, artists will be able to pair up with one or more other artists and show together as one venue.  It is less expensive to show with another artist, and it may also help you have more visitors.  I have done the Art Tours the past two years.  The first year on the tours, I showed by myself.  Last year, I had three other artists show with me.  Not only was it easier and more fun, but I had a lot more traffic throughout the weekend.  I plan to join forces with other artists again this year. 

If you are interested in joining up with another artist (or artists) this year for the tour, but haven't found someone to partner with, you may leave a comment on the blog with your email address or some way for people to contact you.  Please include the kind of work you do (2 dimensional, 3 dimensional, large scale, etc.) and whether you would like to have another artist at your studio, or if you would be willing to come to another studio to show.   You may also send an email to arttours@mbcac.org. 

If you are new to the Art Tours, partnering with other artists is a really good way to get a feel for what the Art Tours are like, without such a large commitment.  Of course, if you really want to show off your studio and art by yourself, we welcome you to do so.  Please don't wait too long to send in your application.  You can mail the application to the MBCAC: PO Box 643, Joshua Tree, CA  92252 or you can deliver it in person to the Donation=Creation Art Store, 61325 Hwy. 62, Ste. F in Joshua Tree.  Once again, the application for the 2010 Art Tours is available online, simply by clicking this link.  Make sure to have it sent in by April 6th! 

Welcome

Hello, and welcome to the new blog of the HWY 62 Art Tours!  The Art Tours is an annual event in the high desert of Southern California sponsored by the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council (MBCAC) in the art communities of Joshua Tree National Park surrounding Highway 62.  This event takes place the last two weekends of October every year and features the popular Open Studio Art Tours.  This is a unique opportunity for the visual artists of the Morongo Basin to open up their studios to the public.  It offers a glimpse into the world of the artist: a chance to see the newest creations of area artists in the space where these works are created.  Often, the setting in which an artist works has a great impact on the art being created, and our beautiful high desert is no exception to this phenomenon. The Open Studios take place during the day, but the fun continues when the sun goes down.  Each evening of the Art Tours venues and theatres throughout the townships of the Morongo Basin offer live music and performance art.

For any event of this magnitude, it is important to start planning as soon as possible.  We are pleased to announce that the artist applications for the 2010 Art Tours are available.  The applications can be downloaded to your computer, or you can pick one up in person at the Donation=Creation Art Store run by the MBCAC in Joshua Tree.  To download your application, click here.  Local artists are invited to apply for participation in this event.  For more information about participating in the HWY 62 Art Tours or to help sponsor, you can call the MBCAC office at 760-366-2226.  You may also contact us via email at arttours@mbcac.org.  You must be a current member or apply for a new membership of the MBCAC to participate.

The Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization that relies on memberships, grants, donations and sales at our thrift art store ... Donation=Creation. Our mission is to inspire and enliven the community through the arts, and 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.  

We hope to make this year's HWY 62 Art Tours the best yet!  This blog will be your connection to the news pertaining to the Art Tours.  We hope to do our best to keep people informed, not only for the artists participating in the event, but also for those planning to go on the tours. To learn more about the annual event and the Arts Council visit www.HWY62ArtTours.com or www.MBCAC.org. Stay tuned for more coming soon.....