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Eric Chen < Back The Siren By Eric Chen The siren blares as a firetruck turns and rushes down the street, growing more distant with each passing second. “And there it goes, yet another bout of insufferable shrieking from the firetruck,” Red Rose complains. “Just like every other day. It’s unbearable!” Her leaves flail as a gust of wind strikes her. “I wish there weren’t a fire every five minutes so those firetrucks would cease their incessant wailing!” A small bird perches onto one of Red Rose’s thorn-covered stems. “Maybe then I’ll finally be able to live in peace!” Having been poked by a thorn during Red Rose’s fit of fury, the bird takes off. Considering Red Rose’s fantasy, I address her exaggeration. “Are you sure the firetrucks are that active? I only hear them once or twice a day; less than a minute each time, too!” “Even if they don’t come out that often, it’s extremely painful when they do!” “Red Rose, I think you should focus on all the wonderful things in your life instead of the things that annoy you.” “How could I even manage to do that? It’s impossible to peacefully rest in my bed without a deafening motorcycle passing by and shattering the silence!” “There are a lot of pleasant things that can make you feel better after the vehicles go by. Let’s take a moment to appreciate the environment around us. The cool breeze and the warm sunlight make for a lovely day, don’t you think?” “The weather here is terrible. One moment there’s a drought, the next there’s a flood, and a day later I’m being blown by absurdly powerful gusts of wind that came out of nowhere!” “That may be true, but let’s truly experience our surroundings in the here and the now. Isn’t the soil nice and nutrient-rich? Aren’t the birds’ chirps pleasant to listen to? Don’t you just love the view of the beautiful setting sun? “All I know is that being planted here was a mistake! I should’ve been planted in one of those extravagant gardens owned by royals where the plants live with the best treatment and environment known to plant-kind!” “I understand that you want to live in a fancy home, but it’s not as amazing as you think it is. I once heard about Pink Rose’s experience living in a palace garden. The weather never changed and the flowers were constantly trimmed. There were never any birds, either. You’d find a whole different set of problems there.” “But there aren’t any loud cars near those gardens!” “You’ll always be able to complain about things no matter what lifestyle you lead. However, you can decide how you react to them. If you shift your focus from the noisy firetrucks and seemingly heavenly gardens to what we have in the present moment, you’ll find that your suffering will disappear.” “You’re right. I can’t do anything to stop the noise, but I can accept that it’s there and choose to be at peace with it. I understand now. Thank you, White Rose.” “Of course. Wanna watch the sunset with me?” “That would be lovely.” The siren wails as a firetruck turns and heads down the street, growing more distant with each passing second. Its pitch decreases as it drives further away from the fire station until it is no longer audible. Peace returns to the evening. The plants’ leaves rustle as a gentle breeze passes by. As the sun gradually sets below the horizon, the heavens are painted with several fiery shades of red and orange. A small bird perches onto one of Red Rose’s buds. There is nothing but the sound of leaves rustling in the cool winds. Having been content with the serenity of the environment, the bird sings a song. Previous Next

Tanisha Alam < Back Spring Festival By Tanisha Alam It is always a certain time of the year that you return to us. With your beauty and personality, your color and vibrance, you bring everyone prosperity and good fortune. For one month you are regarded with happiness. Like a symbol of hope, the troubles we faced in the last year will disappear at the sight of you. For one month you are displayed to showcase your beauty and your charm. Invited into the homes of all, you give us luck with your presence. For one month, you are the most regarded of any. In such festive times, there would be no tradition without you. You are essential and you are easy. The activities associated with you bring joy to the community, but you do not require much maintenance. Most importantly you are familiar. Since the beginning you have been there. Every year this time approaches, you are the most anticipated guest. When we have to venture from home, we look for you as a sense of belonging and as a sense of family. When we see you, we are reminded of all the good moments in our lives. A joyous time, that one month. But what happens after? What happens when the weather changes and new flowers bloom? All of a sudden your face drops and your color fades and you emit a certain stench. But why? Are you jealous that others arrive after you? But, you had your grand entrance. You were praised till you were worn out. People toss you aside, some even holding on till the last petal. Because, now that your time has passed, you are out of luck and out of style. The festivities that happen before you bless us for the following year, but they must come to an end eventually. Now we have to get on with our lives. Time does not stop, so we cannot allow you to linger, and that you know. So, you accept it. You make your departure, taking your festivities with you. You understand. That time of year is over, your regard is over. Oh well. This happens every season. No hard feelings. It is rather bittersweet. You know when you will come and you know when you will leave. Mourning you like the dead seems pointless. You will be back, so, instead of crying, let us continue to celebrate. Celebrate our new found luck, prosperity, and joy. Let it resonate for the next year, and once the weather turns cold and that luck seems to run out again, no worries, only a couple more months before you return. You come bearing gifts when we need you most, and once that joy is fulfilled, you depart till your time returns. You have a motive and as long as time continues to move forward, you will continue to fulfill it. That is the beauty of you. Previous Next

< Back Desert Cuts Lorraine Bubar Previous Next

< Back to ACTIVATION 1/18 Mark Steven Greenfield A Survey, 2001-2021 January 22 - April 17, 2022 Mark Steven Greenfield is a native Angeleno. Born into a military family, he spent his early years in Taiwan and Germany, returning to Los Angeles at the age of 10. Entering into an American adolescence after being abroad gave Greenfield a unique look at the negative stereotyping of African Americans like himself, sparking his interest in the complexities of the Black experience both historically and in contemporary society. Greenfield’s creative process is based on research that delves into topics of Black genealogy, heritage, and cultural representation. His artwork is anchored in aspects of Black history that have been buried, forgotten, or omitted. Mark Steven Greenfield studied at what is now the Otis College of Art and Design and went on to receive a Bachelor’s degree in Education from California State University, Long Beach in 1973. To support his artistic practice, he held various positions as a visual display artist, park director, graphic design instructor, and police sketch artist before returning to school to earn his Master of Fine Arts degree in painting and drawing from California State University, Los Angeles in 1987. Since then, Greenfield has been a significant figure in the Los Angeles arts scene, serving as arts administrator for the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, director of the Watts Towers Arts Center and the Towers of Simon Rodia, director of the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, and as a board member for the Downtown Arts Development Association, the Korean Museum, and The Armory Center for the Arts — to name a few. Greenfield has been teaching painting and design courses at Los Angeles City College since 1997. Previous Next

Up A print collection Nuri Amanatullah Nuri Amanatullah is an Antelope Valley-based painter, illustrator, and designer whose stylized, graphic depictions of flora and fauna are represented in a variety of mediums including illustration and large-scale murals. Employing both traditional techniques and digital media, Amanatullah has designed for Disney, storyboarded for Uber, illustrated for Airbnb, and painted walls at numerous sites around the Antelope Valley including a mural with Antelope Valley Walls in 2018, as well as in Flint, Michigan as part of the Free City Mural Festival. He has also lent his talents to the non-profit Housing Corporation of America for the past three years helping to jump-start and brand a wide variety of art programs at affordable income housing properties. Illustrating animals and plants in a colorfully bold and vibrant style, Amanatullah subverts the idea of the desert as a barren and desolate setting by exploring the intersection of our everyday lives and the natural world. These brief, chance encounters with wildlife take place in the “vacant” spaces between housing and commercial developments, highlighting our own place amongst nature--often at odds with it, and far separated from our surroundings. February 2019 - May 2021 Back to list

< Back Terry Arena Natural Capital Once considered a “ghost lake” in California, the torrential downpour of rain experienced in 2023 has resurrected bodies of water like Tulare Lake. It was considered one of the largest freshwater bodies west of the Mississippi before it would be depleted of its water in the 19th century through the creation of canals, dams, and ditches that would divert water from the region for agriculture. Lucrative crops like pistachios are planted on thousands of acres of the lakebed. The land that provides three quarters of our country’s fruits and nuts and one-third of our vegetables has been quietly overtaken by nature multiple times in the last hundred years. At the crux of artist Terry Arena’s work is her environmental curiosity and the robust food economy of California’s Central Valley. Fundamental to her art inquiry is the notion of collapse and rebirth as seen in phenomena like the disappearance and resurgence of Lake Tulare. Her latest body of work, Natural Capital , explores society’s race toward the eventual depletion of our environmental resources. She investigates how humanity commodifies the natural world through its water, land, and aquifers. UPCOMING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Weaving: Stories of our Past, Present, and Future with Terry Arena Saturday, July 20 at 3 PM | Located at the Lancaster Museum of Art and History Join us for a creative workshop where we explore the timeless art of weaving. Participants will create woven self-portraits using a variety of materials, reflecting their past, present, or future! Bring any meaningful paper (photos, recipes, etc.) to incorporate into your piece. Previous Next

2012 < View Public Art Projects Pete Knight Mural 2012 Permanent Art Project The William “Pete” Knight mural was created by local artist Geo-May and commissioned by the City of Lancaster as part of the Aerospace Walk on Lancaster Blvd. It commemorates the accomplishments of Edwards Air Force Base stationed aeronautical engineer, test pilot, combat pilot, and astronaut whom holds the world’s speed record for flight in a winged aircraft. He was one of four Air Force pilots selected to pilot the Dyna Soar (X-20) aircraft in the first Air Force space program. He was also one of eight X-15 pilots to earn his astronaut wings by flying an airplane in space 280,000 feet. Knight later became Palmdale’s first elected mayor and served on the State Senate.

< Back Relic Bozigian Gallery Stephanie Buer Combining the clarity of realism with the delicate qualities of oil painting and charcoal, artist Stephanie Buer creates instances of documentation and expression that create quiet and contemplative landscapes. Her practice is tedious and labor-intensive, a testament to the photorealistic accuracy of her scenes. Relic showcases Buer’s interest in these dilapidated spaces. Her immersive mark-making brings viewers closer to these environments and allows for an intimate view. The deterioration of infrastructure and its adornment with overgrowth and graffiti are on full display, demonstrating the clash of human-made processes and the natural world. Buer shows that these structures are products of the passage of time yet are frozen in their current ephemeral state. IMAGE CREDIT: Stephanie Buer, Relic , Oil on Canvas, 2025 Courtesy of Thinkspace Projects Previous Next

Back to Exhibitions Winter 2025 season September 27 - January 4, 2026 • Lancaster Museum of Art and History Blue Grass, Green Skies brought together works that reflected on the natural world, environmental changes, terrain, and scenery, including pieces inspired by the California landscape. Organized in collaboration with Thinkspace and LACMA, the exhibition highlighted diverse artistic perspectives on these themes. ⁠ About the Artist Big Title I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Strange Pathways Curated by Thinkspace Projects Learn More Blue Grass, Green Skies: American Impressionism and Realism from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art an exhibition from LACMA Learn More Elevations and Extensions Luciana Abait Learn More

Om Baboolall < Back Taking It All In By Om Baboolall From the day I can first sprout, I knew it was gonna be an interesting one. I can still see the remains of my ancestors all around me. Well, the ones they forgot to pick up. These new guys were always the lazy type. When the little one used the pool as a beach, her little plastic shovel remains to be found in her secret spot behind the slide. She used to barely step over the rock to get to her secret place, but now it's just like any other rock, nothing special. The boy was always big enough to step over the rocks, but now he's climbing to the top like it was never an issue. Sometimes I see him in the backyard late at night huffing and puffing when the rest of the house is asleep. I was there when the little girl snuck in some boy, laid down, and watched the stars till the sun came up. I hope she realizes he's texting "zoe" and not just scrolling Instagram. He sprinted out of there when he realized someone was awake in the house. I was in anguish when the little girl almost got caught; she doesn't deserve it. I hardly ever see the people who paid for the house. I overheard their conversations and that they're too busy to go in the pool or go in the backyard, or go on the swing and sit around the fire, or reminisce about the old apartment while sipping their drinks. I know these people won't be here for long. You always get that feeling about the owners when they first move in. Are they here for a long time or just because the brochure looked nice? These guys are just like the rest of them. I can't complain. I get watered every now and then. I mean, I'm next to the peppy rose bushes. I get whatever they don't drink. I wonder what the subsequent owners are going to be like. Are they gonna spend their nights hard at work or get drunk and throw up over by daffodils? Even better, maybe these new owners will fight back if the next-door neighbors try to bully them. The last time that happened, the cops were called. I hope that we can have an owner who cares about the house more than the rest of these mediocre families one day. Word gets out quick around here. Someone heard the front yard talking about getting a new pond. That's one thing nice these guys have decided to do. Who knows, maybe they can fix up the one back here too. Perhaps by then, my time will come. Maybe by then, I can have an owner that waters me first instead of just getting runoff. Until that time comes, I'll just be waiting here with nothing to do but take it all in. Previous Next

Upcoming Events & Engagement PST ART COMMUNITY HUB About Desert Forest Three organizations—LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, LA Commons, and the Lancaster Museum of Art and History—have joined Getty as Community Hubs for Art & Science Collide . Helping to bring the initiative to people where they live, the Hubs engage nearby grassroots organizations, public agencies, STEAM educators, and young creatives to develop and present their own programs on the Art & Science Collide themes. Offerings will range from art workshops to habitat restoration projects. RSVP links will be updated regularly. Please click here for our Desert Forest: Life with Joshua Trees Community Hub Eventbrite Collection. Header image credit: Jennifer Gunlock, Joshua Tree Series VII (Detail), 2023, Digital collage, 10 x 6 1/2 inches. Courtesy of the artist. September October A DAY IN THE DESERT November December SEPTEMBER 2024 Up SEPT 21 7 PM-9 PM VIDEO SCREENING FEATURING VIDEO WORKS BY CASEY KIERNAN, DIANE BEST, AND MONROE ISENBERG MOAH:CEDAR Hall A screening of Casey Kiernan’s “I Thought They Were Protected” a powerful video that documents the impact of climate change, development, and fires on Joshua trees. Also, featuring Diane Best’s “Tree Moves,” and Monroe Isenberg’s “Harbinger” performance video. RSVP SEPT 22 9 AM-11 AM WALK-AND-TALK: FIRE RECOVERY & RESTORATION POST 2020 BOBCAT FIRE Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area Walk-and-talk (with canyon hike option) at Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area with County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation superintendents and naturalists Jonathan Numer and Olivia Miseroy, sharing stories about fire recovery and the major restoration effort Jonathan is part of at the Punchbowl. Please note: This event is subject to postponement due to local fire activity or changing environmental conditions. Updates will be provided if postponement becomes necessary. RSVP OCTOBER 2024 Up OCT 03 3 PM-7 PM MOJAVE DESERT TRADING CARDS WORKSHOP Museum of Art and History This engagement invites participants to create their own Mojave Desert-inspired trading card. The workshops are part of Lancaster MOAH's Monthly Young Artist Workshops and will be led by organization partner Art in Residence and supported by MOAH staff. RSVP OCT 12 2 PM-4 PM REGIONAL FLORA AND FAUNA ART WORKSHOP Prime Desert Woodland Preserve This workshop explores the relationship between residents of the Antelope Valley and its flora and fauna. The art workshops are centered around increasing knowledge, exposure, and awareness of wildlife that exists in-between and around existing areas of development/urban sprawl through artistic representations of data and STEAM-based education. RSVP OCT 20 12 PM-4 PM MOJAVE DESERT TRADING CARDS WORKSHOP Prime Desert Woodland Preserve This engagement invites participants to create their own Mojave Desert-inspired trading card. The workshops are part of MOAH Lancaster’s Monthly Young Artist Workshops and will led by organization partner Art in Residence and supported by MOAH staff. RSVP OCT 06 11 AM-1 PM HEY JTREE FALLING IN LOVE, ONE TREE AT A TIME Prime Desert Woodland Preserve Hey JTree (https://www.heyjtree.com ) is an ongoing participatory art research project and mock on-line dating site for meeting Joshua trees. RSVP OCT 13 2 PM-4 PM REGIONAL FLORA AND FAUNA ART WORKSHOP Prime Desert Woodland Preserve This workshop explores the relationship between residents of the Antelope Valley and its flora and fauna. The art workshops are centered around increasing knowledge, exposure, and awareness of wildlife that exists in-between and around existing areas of development/urban sprawl through artistic representations of data and STEAM-based education. RSVP OCT 06 4 PM-6 PM DESERT FOREST: PANEL DISCUSSION & BOOK SIGNING WITH SANT KHALSA, KELLY HERBINSON, JANE ROGERS, AND GEARY HUND Mojave Desert Land Trust Art, science, and conservation come together as we celebrate the release of Desert Forest: Life with Joshua Trees, a comprehensive collection of essays and artworks on the Mojave Desert’s most iconic plant. RSVP OCT 13 10 AM-12 PM WALK-AND-TALK: FIRE RECOVERY & RESTORATION POST 2020 FIRE George Bones Wildlife Sanctuary Walk-and-talk at George Bones Wildlife Sanctuary (99-acre reserve at West Avenue G and 205th Street West) with County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation superintendents and naturalists Jonathan Numer and Olivia Miseroy. Large stands of Joshua trees were burned by a fire that occurred one month before the Bobcat Fire and still remain upright. RSVP A DAY IN THE DESERT October 26, 2024 EVENTBRITE COLLECTION Up OCT 26 11 AM-12 PM GUIDED JOSHUA TREE MEDIATION AND PERFORMANCE BY EDGAR FABIÁN FRÍAS Prime Desert Woodland Preserve Edgar Fabián Frías will present a performance and lead a guided group meditation focused on the healing energy of the unique and iconic Joshua tree. Frias’ works are transformative, profound, and playful, often inviting audience participation. Their art explores historical legacies, resistance, resilience, and radical imagination, framed within Indigenous Futurism, spirituality, play, pedagogy, animism, and queer aesthetics. RSVP OCT 26 3 PM-4 PM CURATOR-LED EXHIBITION WALKTHROUGH WITH SANT KHALSA Museum of Art and History Gain insight into the Desert Forest: Life with Joshua Trees exhibition led by curator Sant Khalsa. RSVP OCT 26 12 PM-2 PM PUBLIC CLIMATE FUTURE READINGS BY ADRIENE JENIK Museum of Art and History Artist and ASU professor Adriene Jenik has created a tarot deck for the environmentally minded. Adriene Jenik blends climate sceince and tarot readings. Stop by for a personal reading of your climate future. RSVP OCT 26 2 PM-3 PM CO-CREATING NEW FUTURES FOR JOSHUA TREES PANEL DISCUSSION Museum of Art and History Multidisciplinary panel discussion with Sant Khalsa, Dr. Juniper Harrower, Brendan Cummings, Fred Brashear Jr, Matthew Brandt, and Chelsea Mosher, focused on the intersections of art, science, natural and cultural history, and public policy. RSVP NOVEMBER 2024 Up NOV 09 2 PM-4 PM HEY JTREE FALLING IN LOVE, ONE TREE AT A TIME Museum of Art and History Hey JTree (https://www.heyjtree.com) is an ongoing participatory art research project and mock on-line dating site for meeting Joshua trees. RSVP NOV 09 1:30 PM-3 PM DESERT FOREST: PANEL DISCUSSION & BOOK SIGNING WITH SANT KHALSA, BRENDAN CUMMINGS, J.D., LYNN C. SWEET, PHD, AND SEAN MILANOVICH, PHD Twentynine Palms Book Festival, Old Schoolhouse Museum Discover how the multidisciplinary project Desert Forest: Life with Joshua Trees sheds light on Joshua tree preservation efforts and the intersection of art, science, Indigenous knowledge and public policy. More info at https://www.29pbf.com . This discussion is part of the Twentynine Palms Book Festival. To RSVP for the festival, click here . To RSVP for the panel discussion, click the button below. RSVP NOV 10 10 AM-12 PM WALK-AND-TALK: FIRE RECOVERY & RESTORATION POST 2020 BOBCAT FIRE Near the Juniper Hills Community Center Walk-and-talk in Juniper Hills burn scar with Bryant Baker, Director of Conservation & Research at Los Padres Forest Watch. A chaparral scrublands expert, Baker has done tremendous research on fire recovery in desert-to-mountain transition zones like Juniper Hills, an area where many Joshua trees were destroyed during the Bobcat Fire. RSVP DECEMBER 2024 Up DEC 05 6 PM-7 PM DESERT FOREST: SCIENTISTS SHARE JOSHUA TREE RESEARCH VIRTUAL PANEL DISCUSSION Online via Zoom Scientists Juniper Harrower, Jeremy B. Yoder, Christopher Irwin Smith, Lynn C. Sweet and Daniel Oren Hastings discuss their fascination with Joshua trees and the Mojave Desert, and share their current research on the impacts of climate change RSVP DEC 07 11 AM-1 PM HEY JTREE FALL IN LOVE, ONE TREE AT A TIME Museum of Art and History Hey JTree (https://www.heyjtree.com) is an ongoing participatory art research project and mock on-line dating site for meeting Joshua trees. RSVP DEC 07 5 PM-6:30 PM THERE'S NOTHING HERE EXCEPT EVERYTHING MULTIMEDIA PERFORMANCE BY ROB GRAD Museum of Art and History “There’s Nothing Here Except Everything,” addresses our relationship with the desert, with an emphasis on Joshua trees, not only as a complex and crucial environmental ecosystem, but as a spiritual center with influence that reaches much further than its physical presence. RSVP DEC 29 11 AM-1 PM DESERT FOREST: LIFE WITH JOSHUA TREES BOOK SIGNING WITH SANT KHALSA Museum of Art and History Join us for the closing day of Desert Forest: Life with Joshua Trees at the Lancaster Museum of Art and History. Sant Khalsa, the exhibition's curator and co-editor of the accompanying book, will be present for a special book signing. The event will take place on Sunday, December 29, 2024, from 11 AM to 1 PM. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with the curator and celebrate the exhibition’s impactful themes. RSVP Life with Joshua Trees Desert Forest: About Desert Forest

back to list Julius Eastman Julius Eastman is an artist, DJ, dad and creative force living in California’s Antelope Valley. He has been actively showing his work, appearing at MOAH, the Modern Tea House, Sagebrush Cafe, and working with the Art Around group in Lancaster. In his paintings the landscape is both subject and object, it’s a pliant and mental thing. A rebel music seems to pulse with psychedelic-street sounds, and symbols maintain a power that Eastman seems to both feed and resist. One could call it cultural landscaping, because Eastman is contemplating a way to negotiate the line between sacred and secular, but doing it in the tones of popular culture; taking, in his way, a black and white world and rendering it in color.