February 26, 2009

Art Show Features Celebrated Desert Painters





City News
City of Palm Desert






Verbena and dune artwork by Sally Ward.



See wind sculpted sand, shadow stained mountains, and verbena blooming in a profusion of color, all captured on canvass by three living legends of desert art during the first Historical Society of Palm Desert Art Show, on display March 6 through 14, at the Historical Society.

Desert landscapes by Carl Bray, Sally Ward, and Bill Bender will be available for purchase throughout the event, which kicks off on Friday, March 6, from 3 to 6 p.m. with a public open house where guests can meet the nonagenarian artists.

Bray, 91, famous for his skill at painting the wispy, gray green smoke tree, will be on hand along with Bender, 90, who is creating a desert landscape specifically for this show. Ward, who is 99, is unable to attend. Her daughter, Sue Ward, will be at the reception to answer questions about her mother’s work.

Admission is free. A portion of the proceeds from sales will benefit the Historical Society of Palm Desert, which is located at 72-861 El Paseo. For more information, please call 346-6588.