Oct. 19 Daily Briefing: New art in Old Las Palmas, interfaith vigil tonight, parade season starts, and more

Welcome to Thursday, everyone. If you haven’t got a chance to visit the “Out on the Walk” exhibit at the Village Green Heritage Center (read our story about it here) you’ve got plenty of chances. It’s open Thursdays from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m., and Fridays through Sundays from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. at 221 South Palm Canyon Drive through Nov. 12. The exhibit’s operation relies heavily on the generous support of volunteers, and there is an urgent need for additional help. Specifically, volunteers are needed for shifts today from 1:45 to 5:15 p.m., and on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Those interested in volunteering should contact David Gray at lgbtqpshistory@gmail.com as soon as possible.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Ghost Riders in the Sky” by Johnny Cash

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LEADING OFF

New art for Old Las Palmas, ‘shade equity’ discussed

During Wednesday’s Public Arts Commission meeting, several agenda items were addressed that could lead to new art cropping up all over the city.

First things first: The commission voted to accept the Old Las Palmas Neighborhood Association’s donation of an abstract sculpture entitled “Red Dragon. “

• Commissioners said they were excited about the initiative from the neighborhood’s beautification committee, especially the whimsical design of the sculpture.

Context: The neighborhood organization sourced the artist and will pay for installation. The abstract red sculpture represents a Red Dragon and is the first in a series of animal sculptures that will be installed along one of the neighborhood streets.

• Commissioners called it a “wonderful example of how engaged communities can create art.”

Next up: Commissioners also discussed the possibility of adding artistic shade structures to parks in the city. 

What they’re saying: Commissioner Gary Armstrong reminded his colleagues that one of the commission’s roles is beautifying the city.

• “Art doesn’t always have to have a cultural meaning,” Armstrong said. “Sometimes art can just be fun, pretty, and animating. It can make people smile when they see it.”

Why it matters: Hot cities in the southwest are only getting hotter thanks to climate change, and some cities, like Phoenix, are already working to improve what’s known as “shade equity.”

• Shade equity describes the fairness in how people access tree shade in their communities. Studies have shown wealthier neighborhoods tend to have more shade trees and benefit from cleaner air, cooler temperatures, and better overall health.  

What happens next: The Public Arts Commission will now have to work with the Parks and Recreation Commission and neighborhood organizations to determine which parks would be best suited for artistic shade structures.

• “Demuth Park is very family-oriented with a lot of sports teams and activity,” Armstrong explained. Compared to Frances Stevens and Victoria parks, which each have different identities. 

BRIEFLY

🕊️ Peace and prayer vigil planned

As the Israel-Hamas war rages thousands of miles away, local clergy and community leaders plan to gather this evening in Palm Springs for an interfaith prayer vigil.

• The event, organized by clergy from seven different churches and faith centers, will feature nine different speakers from Palm Springs, the High Desert, and elsewhere in the Inland Empire.
  
  
• Among those scheduled to speak are Rabbi David Lazar of Palm Springs-based Or Hamidbar, Corona-area Muslim leader Fauzia Rivzi, Pastor Jane Voigt of the city’s United Methodist Church, and Mayor Grace Garner.
  
  
  
• Details: The event begins at 5 p.m. and will be held at The Church of St. Paul in the Desert, 125 West El Alameda, in Palm Springs. All are welcome to attend. 

🔌 Retrofitting should help during quakes

Just in time for today’s “Great Shakeout” event comes word that Southern California Edison (SCE) has completed seismic mitigation work on 50 of its substations, including one in Palm Springs.

• The work included retrofitting substations with seismically tested equipment components and enhancing anchoring of large transformers. It’s part of more than $186 million in seismic grid resiliency improvements performed since 2016.
  
  
  
• SCE officials said Wednesday that completion of the work on its largest bulk power transmission substations will help provide uninterrupted electricity during a significant earthquake.
  
  
  
• What to watch for: During today’s “Great Shakeout,” which starts at 10:19 a.m., more than 53 million people worldwide plan to practice earthquake safety. For more information, or to show you are participating, turn here (English) or here (Español).

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TODAY’S EVENTS

Modernism Week October
Modernism Week October officially kicks off today, with dozens of events already scheduled for the first day. Several tours and parties still have tickets available including bus tours and neighborhood walking tours.

Nonesuch Nonfiction Book Club
2 p.m. | Public Library
This month, the book club read the season-appropriate, “The Lady and Her Monsters: A Tale of Dissections, Real-Life Dr. Frankensteins, and the Creation of Mary Shelley’s Masterpiece,” by Roseanne Montillo. 

Out on the Walk
2 p.m. | Village Green
An exhibition honoring LGBTQ+ recipients of stars on the Palm Springs Walk of the Stars continues today. The exhibition runs through Nov. 12.

VillageFest
6 p.m. | Downtown Palm Springs
The weekly street fair features art, entertainment, shopping, and food. The Palm Springs Art Museum also has free admission tonight starting at 5 p.m.

Machine Dreams: “Ex Machina”
7 p.m. | Cultural Center
The Cultural Center continues its cinematic voyage into the world of artificial intelligence with 1984’s “Terminator,” from James Cameron starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton. ($12)

SAVE THE DATE

• Palm Springs Leather Pride from Oct. 26 through Oct. 28.
  
  
• Halloween Palm Springs on Oct. 29 in the Arenas District.
  
  
• Palm Springs Pride Festival from Nov. 3 through 5.
  
  
  
• ONE-PS Lip-Sync Battle on Nov. 12.

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AND FINALLY …

Temperatures in the triple digits didn’t prevent the crowds from converging on the streets of Downtown Palm Springs Wednesday as parade season officially kicked off.

Driving the news: Palm Canyon Drive was lined with those who came out to cheer on the Palm Springs High School football team during the school’s annual homecoming parade.

• Led by Palm Springs Mayor Grace Garner, the parade grand marshal and a PSHS graduate, multiple clubs and teams – including the entire football squad – took part in this year’s parade.

Zoom in: Many parade entries made an extra effort to decorate their floats with this year’s theme – Viva Las Vegas.

Looking ahead: The 2-6 Indians (1-2 in league) will face off against Xavier Prep Friday night at Ralph Watt Stadium, starting at 7 p.m.

But wait: Make sure to circle your calendars for three more parades to close out the year. Details about the Nov. 5 Pride Parade, Nov. 11 veterans Day Parade, and Dec. 2 Festival of Lights Parade, can be found on the city website here.

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