The City of Palm Springs is pleased to announce a new public arts project dubbed “Pillars of Palm Springs” is set to be unveiled in Spring of 2024 on World Art Day.

The creative new project will showcase six art installations on the median of Tahquitz Canyon Way running from the Airport to Palm Canyon Drive. The installation includes six individually crafted “pillars” that are being designed to represent the themes of Creativity, Serenity, Diversity, Civility, Community, and Equality. Each pillar is being created by a different artist, four of whom are from the Coachella Valley. The installation will replace “The Art Of Taming Horses” by Christopher Myers. Each pillar will have a QR code located nearby to facilitate access to more information on each design and artist. The finished artworks will be unveiled on April 15, 2024, World Art Day.

The project, commissioned by the City’s Public Arts Commission, is the largest and most comprehensive project initiated by the Commission. Applications became available in June 2023 and the Commission received 87 applications from 57 potential bidders, a new record for submissions. 39% of bidders were local, and of the final winners, 4 out of 6 are from the Greater Palm Springs area. 

The winning artists are Roger Reutimann (Creativity), Anne Faith Nicholls (Serenity), Bernard Stanley Hoyes (Diversity), Jessup + Cooning (Civility), and MIDABI (Community), and Scott Froschauer (Equality).

"These six winning designs, chosen for their bold artistry and alignment with our community's core principles, not only exemplify each of these equities but, collectively, they form a visual tapestry that reinforces the seventh and overarching pillar of Palm Springs that we call Identity,” said Gary Armstrong, Chair of the Public Arts Commission.

“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the talented artists who brought these visions to life, and we look forward to seeing these pillars become an integral part of our city's identity.”

“Supporting local artists not only bolsters the cultural identity of Palm Springs, but also creates a stronger connection between artists and their surroundings, resulting in art that resonates more profoundly with our local audience,” said Mayor Grace Garner, who added that engaging local talent promotes economic growth by keeping resources within the community and helps foster a thriving arts scene that attracts tourism and investment.

“These pillars will stand tall as a testament to our shared values, reminding residents and visitors alike of the rich cultural and social fabric that binds us all together,” Garner said.

About the Artists

Roger Reutimann (Creativity)

Roger Reutimann has lived a varied and creative life since childhood. As a multi-disciplinary artist, he is mostly self-taught with an insatiable desire for knowledge and skills in the field of the arts and popular culture. He earned his MA in sculpture from the University of the Arts, Zurich and holds a degree from Music School Zurich Conservatory. In 2008 he became a full-time artist, using his unique background and skills to create innovative and original works of art. Inspired by the 1959 Cadillac, Reutimann’s pillar, representing Creativity, melds respect for midcentury modern design, car culture, and desertscape. The tips of the cactus, or taillights of the car, light up at night.

Anne Faith Nicholls (Serenity)

Anne Faith Nicholls is an American contemporary artist recognized for her Neo-surrealistic paintings and sculptures. Her work has been exhibited in museums, galleries, collections, and art fairs around the world, and she’s contributed to a variety of high-profile publications and commercial projects with renowned collaborators. Often exploring the subconscious, her works are layered and mysterious, creating symbolic narratives on the human condition. Inspired by surrealism and folk art, she combines her classical training with ingenuity and craftsmanship to create artworks in a variety of mediums, with her unique perspective ever-present. Currently based in Palm Springs, Anne Faith Nicholls continues to exhibit and collaborate with creative partners around the world. 

Her pillar, representing Serenity, furthers her design directive by showcasing a work that will change with colors when illuminated at night. She notes that water was what brought settlers here and gave them serenity from wandering in the desert.

Bernard Stanley Hoyes (Diversity)

Bernard Hoyes is a Palm Desert-based visual artist who has developed into a master of colorful and rhythmical compositions. He paints "from an intuitive point of view," and during the process the "spirits take possession" and the ritual theme becomes dominant.

Hoyes has participated in numerous solo exhibitions in the US and abroad. He has created numerous murals in the inner city of Los Angeles and has curated exhibitions and held a position on the board at the Museum of African American Art in Los Angeles. His works have been featured in numerous television and film productions and collected internationally. Hoyes’ pillar, representing Diversity, is a thoughtful, kinetic piece featuring two hummingbirds which move with the wind to create a genetic strand, reminding the viewer that we all share the same DNA. The word DIVERSITY will be illuminated at night.

Jessup + Cooning (Civility)

Jessup+Cooning is the artist team of Kate Jessup and Celeste Cooning. Separately, each of these artists have built their careers creating public and private commissions as well as gallery work and temporary installations. Their artwork has been exhibited together, but this project will be their first co-designed collaboration. They were inspired by the iconic architecture of Palm Springs and the importance of celebrating courtesy and respect as public practice.Their pillar, representing Civility, celebrates architecture, which is the foundation of any civilization. 

MIDABI (Community)

MIDABI (Michael Daniel Birnberg) was born at home in SoHo NYC, surrounded by a progressive family rooted in individualistic expression and collective introspection. In his teens he began seeking out radical experiences as a means of jarring himself into greater awareness; an outflow of art and philosophy began. MIDABI has a Bachelors degree in Media & Cultural Studies from the University of California, and a Masters in International Counseling Psychology from Alliant International University, obtained with living in Mexico City.His current work focuses on sculptural-text public art as a means of philosophical public intervention. MIDABI currently divides his time between New York City and Palm Springs. His pillar, representing Community, is a clever work that draws a clear and concise conclusion that in Palm Springs, the community is in every direction, every street and every neighborhood.

Scott Froschauer (Equality)

Scott Froschauer lives and works in Los Angeles. He has a degree in textual studies/linguistic theory from Syracuse University. His background includes studies in engineering and cultural deconstruction with extensive experience in fabrication, design, government, and mycelium. His work is first and foremost an exploration in communication. It incorporates playfulness with concepts of connection and empathy. His “The Word on The Street” series of re-contextualized street signs has been installed

in public, private, and municipal spaces throughout the US and Canada. It has been on display at various galleries and museums including the Renwick Gallery of The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. His pillar, representing Equality, is based upon the original Rainbow Flag design. The Flag’s designer, Gilbert Baker, wanted the flag to embrace the broader notion of inclusivity. This pillar will have the word EQUALITY on it which will be illuminated in neon.

For more information, visit www.palmspringsca.gov/pillarsofps.