That is, over Zoom.
The Modernism Week executive director faced a challenge: overseeing the return of in-person tours and events at the desert s annual celebration of mid-century modern architecture and design. Vossler Smith said she found support from other Coachella Valley leaders who were also navigating their own roles in bringing back some of the desert s signature events and institutions amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Representatives from Modernism Week, Desert X, Sunnylands Center and Gardens, Palm Springs Art Museum, and other art and cultural organizations continue to meet for biweekly Zoom meetings to help each other through the web of constantly changing state guidelines and safety protocols. Other topics of discussion include government grants, federal loans, and reopening and operating amid COVID-19.
Rebounding
Palm Springs has weathered the pandemic, and the breaks are coming off
Despite Palm Springs’ tourist dependency, the desert city is emerging from the pandemic with all of its legendary gay resorts intact. All of the city’s gay bars have also survived, and the three gay bars and gay resort in neighboring Cathedral City have also managed to stay afloat despite California’s restrictive closures. Palm Springs has long been one of the gayest cities in the world, and LGBT visitor loyalty combined with the fact the city is within easy driving distance from Los Angeles has been enough of a lifeline to keep the city’s small LGBT businesses from going under.
MORE When “Forever Marilyn” was last in Palm Springs, the statue had a primo downtown location at the intersection of Palm Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Way. Since departing in 2014, the once open lot that was unofficially dubbed “the Marilyn park” has been turned into the Kimpton Rowan Hotel. Photo by Fred Miller (CC BY-SA 2.0).
For generations, Hollywood celebrities have seen Palm Springs as a glamorous desert escape. And legend has it one of the biggest stars of the 20th century was discovered in that little town: Marilyn Monroe.
The iconic actress was 5’ 5” when she wasn’t wearing heels. But a sculpture of the star that passed through Palm Springs a while back had her at 26 feet tall (with heels). That’s about the height of a three-story house.
‘Forever Marilyn’ statue is returning to Palm Springs, but not all residents are happy Listen 25 min MORE When “Forever Marilyn” was last in Palm Springs, the statue had a primo downtown location at the intersection of Palm Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Way. Since departing in 2014, the once open lot that was unofficially dubbed “the Marilyn park” has been turned into the Kimpton Rowan Hotel. Photo by Fred Miller (CC BY-SA 2.0).
A big, brash, 26-foot tall blonde is coming to Palm Springs, and she’s causing a stir before getting to town. Seward Johnson’s 2011 sculpture “Forever Marilyn” depicts the truly iconic Marilyn Monroe mid-subway breeze from that famous scene in “The Seven Year Itch” face smiling with rapture and white skirt billowing upwards.