Article announcing poster artist for the Southwest Arts Festival Indio 2015. Published in the January 2015 issue of Desert Charities News.

1. Page 24 Desert Charities News – desertcharities.com January/February/March 2015
www.palmspringsoperaguild.org
T
he Poster Artist for the 29th annual Southwest Arts Festival, Indio
2015 has been selected. “Desert Falls,” a vibrant acrylic painting on
canvas by local artist Dennis Nagatani, will be the signature poster of
the 2015 Festival taking place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California
from Friday, January 23 through Sunday, January 25, 2015. A tradition of the
Festival since 1987, the poster was unveiled during a reception on Tuesday,
December 9 in the Rose Garden at the Empire Polo Club. Nagatani, who
was honored at the event, also signed a limited number of the posters.
A self-taught artist who has exhibited at art festivals throughout the West
and Southwest for more than 30 years, Nagatani initially used a camera to
capture surroundings that appealed to him. Inspired by a desire to turn his
photographs into paintings, he began a lifelong passion for the painting
process itself. The interplay of colors and their impact on the viewer
became a primary theme, infusing his work with a positive, uplifting energy.
“As an instinctual painter I am focused on, and in tune with what is
evolving on the canvas,” explains Nagatani, “and intuition, serendipity, and
experience play a big role in this process. Whether I am using brushes or
palette knives, or pouring the paint, the process is the same: the painting
unfolds, step by step, each gesture taking its cue from the previous one.
The finished piece evolves on its own rather than depending on outside
inspiration.”
Nagatani, a colorist at heart who finds inspiration in the multi-colored
mountains, deep blue skies and magnificent sunsets of the California
desert, painted “Desert Falls” in a free flowing style, carefully pouring
washes of acrylic color directly onto the canvas. The luminosity of the final
painting captures the movement and energy of the flowing paint.
Southwest Arts Festival, Indio 2015, one of the area’s largest and longest
running juried art festivals, will feature traditional, contemporary, and
abstract fine works of art by more than 250 acclaimed artists. Categories
include clay, drawing, glass, jewelry, metal, painting, photography,
printmaking, sculpture, textile, and other arts. One of Indio’s largest non-
profit fundraisers, more than 200 community leaders and volunteers will
contribute numerous hours to ensure its success.
“Our festival has a reputation for attracting world-class artists, making
it one of the finest in the country,” says Joshua Bonner, President/
CEO of the Indio Chamber Commerce. “It also made the jury’s decision
extremely difficult to select one piece of artwork out of the almost two
dozen outstanding submissions we
received. I predict that ‘Desert Falls’
will be highly coveted not only by
long-time poster collectors, but by
many first-time attendees as well.”
Designated as one of the American
Bus Association’s Top 100 Events in
North America for 2015, the Festival
is a nationally recognized cultural
event that attracts professional artists
from states as far away as Montana,
Wisconsin, Tennessee and Maryland.
In addition to the art exhibition
and sale, the festival will feature a
variety of al fresco dining options
and entertainment by talented local
jazz musicians. The Desert Sun is the
Title Sponsor of the event.
The three-day family friendly
festival will be open from 10 AM – 5
PM daily, and admission is Seniors
– $8, General – $9, Three-Day Pass
– $12, and Children 14 & under –
Free. Tickets may be purchased in
advance by calling the Indio Visitors
Bureau at 760-347-0676.
To receive regular updates follow
Southwest Arts Festival on Facebook,
and for more information visit
southwestartsfest.com or call
760-347-0676.
Mizell Senior Center presents our annual gala, “An
Evening at the Apollo – One Night. Souled Out!” on
Saturday, March 21, 2015 at the Palm Springs Air
Museum. Our presenting sponsor is Eisenhower Health joined by Producing
Sponsor, Harold Matzner. You will be transformed to the vibe of New York
City with our re-creation of CENTRAL PARK and the famed TAVERN ON
THE GREEN. Of course, there will be food carts and hawkers all in the
shadow of the skyline of New York City. This will be an experience like no
other and as usual you can count on a few surprises!! Enjoy cocktails, our
silent auction, and a special pre-show dinner that recalls the fare of famous
New York Harlem restaurants catered by the award winning Savoury’s. Then
it’s off to the Apollo Theater for One Night. Souled Out!
This year we are prepared to outdo all of our past events as we magically
transport you to the legendary Apollo Theater in New York. The Apollo
stands alone in American Musical History and has been described as a
place “where stars are born and legends
are made.” You will experience the
sounds of the era -The Supremes, The
Temptations, Gladys Knight, Tina Turner
and more with the music of the acclaimed
“HITZVILLE – THE SHOW”. This
sensational group from the Las Vegas Strip
are closing their show for one night . . .to
entertain at our night at The Apollo. Be sure
to bring your dancing shoes because this
show will take you back with the sounds of
the musical legends that made the Apollo
Theater famous and entertainers we will
remember for a lifetime. People will be
talking about this “Musical Experience” for
years to come!
Stay tuned for a surprise announcement
about our Gala MC’s and special
performance by multiple Grammy Award,
Gold and Platinum record winners. It will
truly make this an unforgettable Musical Experience of the Season.
We are especially pleased to announce that this year’s Gala is co-chaired
by Dr. Ronald Fragen and Carol Fragen as well as local attorney Eric A.
Rudolph and his partner, Bob Iles. Tickets to this memorable event are
only $245.00 with proceeds benefiting the Mizell Senior Center Valley-wide
Meals on Wheels program. Sponsorships remain available. For information
on tickets or sponsorship, call Jack Newby, Director of Development at
760-323-5689 x118.
Poster Artist Selected for
Southwest Arts Festival
Indo 2015“Desert Falls” by
Coachella Valley Painter
Dennis Nagatani to Represent
29th Annual Festival By Cindy Duffy
Mizell Senior Center Announces
Stars Among Us for 2015
An Evening at the Apollo
One Night. Souled Out!