New Downtown PS Street Bench Art Pilot Project Excites Community

Palm Springs Arts: Colorful images of iconic performers and artists like Judy Garland and Andy Warhol, just to name a few – are now gracing exteriors of benches throughout downtown Palm Springs thanks to an innovative “Street Bench Art Pilot Project,” conceived by the Palm Springs Public Arts Commission, the City Council Downtown Subcommittee and Main Street Palm Springs.

Artist Tysen Knight was commissioned to create the series of benches with the theme of “Urban Desert Palms and Icons” on Palm Canyon Drive between Arenas Road and Museum Way. Among the icons now appearing on the benches besides Garland and Warhol, include artists Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Frida Kahlo, and performers Lucille Ball and Elvis Presley (chosen for their connection to Palm Springs.). According to Public Arts Commission Chair Ann Sheffer, “We hope to expand this project with more art – and more artists – throughout downtown, as well as the city’s neighborhoods and parks.” The Commission created a number of installations in downtown over the summer which can be seen along Palm Canyon and Museum Way. The downtown art projects to date also include a sign installation entitled “Finding Our Way” by artist Scott Froschauer at the corner of Museum Way and Palm Canyon, and banners along Museum Way which proclaim “Art Is Here” and “Palm Springs Art Museum” to celebrate the importance of the Museum as a cultural anchor of downtown.

“Public Art is an in important component of the redevelopment of downtown,” said City Manager David H. Ready. “The City Council is pleased this new pilot project has become such a hit with our residents and visitors and we want to thank the Commission and Main Street for collaborating together to bring more exciting public art to downtown.” The Public Arts Commission previously commissioned a mural by Ryan Campbell entitled “Line Segments“ in the “Art Pit”, a mural by Sophia Enriquez entitled “Con Tus Tias “ (painted with the assistance of students from the Museum’s Mural Camp) and the Graffiti Art Park on the construction site next to the Rowan Hotel. The Art Pit is shared with two installations on loan – the “Babies” and the Walker Guest House. Most of the Downtown art installations are temporary, until the property is developed -- especially the Downtown Park.

“The Public Arts Commission is working with the designers of the Park and the Museum to create art that integrates with and extends downtown as the cultural center of Palm Springs,” said Sheffer. For the 2019-20 year, the bench project will be expanded to “Art in the Parks” and future
projects. More information is available at www.pspublicarts.com.