LIVE MAGAZINE VOL 8, Issue #197 November 28th THRU December 12th, 2014

18
ART &
ABOUT
VALLEY OF THE ARTS
by Lon Michels and Todd Olson
As active members in the Artists Council for the Palm Springs Art
Museum, we know how important it is for a community to come
together to support our beautiful museums. Here in the “Valley
Of The Arts”, the president of the Artists Council has stated that
the council and museum are bringing more working local artists
together to represent their work. Of course the masters and
maestros of yesteryear showcasing their art all over the world in
art museums. As a world class art museum would, Palm Springs
Art Museum continues to grow and expand in support of our
youth, local artists and education. Please see this website, go and
support your local artists right here in the ACE exhibition, on the
lower level of the art museum. Thursday nights are FREE from
4 pm to 8 pm! You will see a jury-ed show of 40 artists, chosen
by Donna McMillan, a jewel of a collector who supports the
arts and the museum. Harold Metzner, Barbara and Jerry Keller,
and Helen Galen are just a few of the numerous supporters and
volunteers, who make our museum as world class as it is. Our
hats are off to all of the folks who made this exhibition possible
for our beloved Palm Springs Art Museum, now with 3 locations.
www.psmuseum.org/palm-springs/exhibition/ace-artists-council-exhibition/
Amanda Lepore
Greater Palm Springs Pride weekend, recently shut down Palm
Canyon for a celebration beyond compare. Who does not love
a happy, fabulous, drag queen, or scantily clad men celebrating
their freedom? Our dear friend, Ariel Trampway is the drag queen
extraordinaire, with a heart of gold, as big as her hair! Our friend
and Ambassador of Palm Springs, Bella de Ball is respected and
loved, as big as her balloon. She now has her very own star, next
to other walk of fame celebrities right on Palm Canyon Drive.
An important thing to remember about these two glam and fab
gals is, the higher the hair, and the higher the heels, the closer
to heaven! With all of the Pride celebrations, it is important to
remember, that we still have 13 countries where it is a death
sentence for being gay! In many other countries you can be
imprisoned just for being gay! One of the many blessings, and
beautiful gifts is freedom for all. One drag queen in the West
Village in New York City had enough! After too many times of
arrests, and unending harassment, she threw a brick that was
felt around the world, to give us PRIDE, which is known as Stone
Wall. With this historical act we built our own self love, and gained
acceptance, which is paramount for happiness and freedom.
Lon and myself were so grateful and honored to be a part of the
Tram Challenge. This was super hard, but the rewards were worth
it. We started at the bottom of the Tram Station, We ran and
walked up over 2000 feet with over 1700 people. All ranging in
age from 7 to 92 years old, we reached our goal to the top, a total
distance of 3.7 miles. As we arrived back at the base, there were
hundreds of cheers and treats, with an amazing outpouring of
love. The Tram Way Challenge is for the support of the local United
Way. One of the benefactors is our very own Desert Blind and
Handicapped Association, which is dear to our hearts.
www.desertblind.org They provide FREE transportation for people
in need. This service is for the blind, strokes survivors, and the
physically challenged, or anyone who is in need of a ride and
a helping hand. The non profit helps to keep these wonderful
people in their own homes and independent. Please help if you
are able. Just $20 dollars donated can make a world of difference
for someone who desperately needs transportation. Please go to
the web site and donate. DBHA just needs 600 people to donate
$20 dollars. This amount will keep our matching funds and expand
rides, and help even more people in need. For the price of latte
and a doughnut, you will be the angel of wheels for someone in
need.