Part three of our day in Palm Springs involves Art, Trailer Park History, and Bighorn Sheep. The desert is truly diverse.
Sunnylands' current public art exhibition, In Motion: Agam at Sunnylands, recalls the role Leonore Annenberg played in bringing the work of the world-famous artist, Yaacov Agam, to the Coachella Valley.
From 1972 to 1976, Mrs. Annenberg was president of the Palm Springs Desert (now Art) Museum’s board of trustees, and she oversaw the opening of its E. Stewart Williams building with an inaugural Agam exhibition. Fascinated by Agam’s art, the Annenbergs acquired the sculpture Square Waves from the museum’s 1976 exhibition and later commissioned Agam to provide sculptures and outdoor paintings for their home. Their wide-ranging collection played an important visual role at Sunnylands.Today's exhibition featured selections from the collections of the Palm Springs Art Museum and Sunnylands to highlight Agam’s kinetic art. With its emphasis on movement, Agam’s works pushed the boundaries of visual art and influenced his own and subsequent generations of artists. It was so cool literally, and figuratively, and the ideal way to end our visit to this amazing estate.
Next was a mini, self-guided driving tour to learn how Palm Springs was the 'jeweled showcase of mobile living' in the '50s and '60s. Some background is needed. Mobile home living began in the 1950s with compact, comfortable shelters being sold at a low cost, enabling “trailerites” to travel about the country in their small-wheeled homes. Palm Springs was said to be the “jeweled showcase of mobile living” because it had captured the simplified luxury and informal elegance of this latest American phenomenon.Approximately 32 trailer parks were located throughout the Coachella Valley during the height of its popularity in the ‘50s and ‘60s. These parks welcomed visitors who flocked to the desert to enjoy the sun and warm weather during the winter months. Many seasonal renters returned to the same trailer park year after year.
The trailer parks provided a wide degree of luxury with rental space as low as $25 to well over $100 a month. Each trailer park was a community unto itself including its own stores, cafes, barber and beauty shops, as well as full programs of entertainment and activities. After their wanderlust was satisfied, many seasonal residents made these parks their year-round homes.
Ramon Trailer Park was one of the earliest mobile home parks in Palm Springs. Developed in the early 1930s by John Williams, the park was heralded throughout the country for its modern design. The state of California developed its guidelines for the development of future mobile home parks from Williams’ master plan.
Offering an array of activities throughout the winter season, these bustling communities brought in professional and amateur players to participate in inter-park shuffleboard tournaments during the midcentury. Beautiful heated pools added to the outdoor lifestyle and square dancing and potluck dinners provided the “indoor sport.”Today, Ramon Mobile Park and RV is still one of the most popular parks in Palm Springs. It consists of more than 250 mobile homes located on a 20-acre parcel. Due to the renewed interest in mobile home living and the park’s convenient location and affordable rent, it is a highly desirable alternative to condominiums or single-family residences.Some trailers look much like they did decades ago.While others have been added onto, while still keeping the midcentury original visible.Here's an extra special Village! Bing Crosby invested in a planned luxury trailer park in Rancho Mirage that was named after his hit song “Blue Skies.” He enlisted his Hollywood friends like George Burns, Gracie Allen, Barbara Stanwyck, Greer Garson, Jack Benny, Claudette Colbert and Danny Kaye to invest in the project and then named the streets in his well-planned community after the invested stars.The desert already had several trailer parks for transient tourists, but when Blue Skies Village opened on Nov. 5, 1955 it was a step up, with superior planning, architectural controls, landscaping and community services.We never really knew about these hidden treasures. An oasis for certain.After our day in the City, we took the more nature based route home. For miles, we were promised BIGHORN SHEEP.Just when I had given up hope, I spotted this ewe and her lamb. What a fabulous way to end our day. Palm Springs is heading up the list of favorite cities. Loved it all.
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1 comments:
I don’t think you could have concluded your Palm Springs trip any better! Those sheep are so good at hiding... nice work spotting them! And a mother and child at that! So cute.
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