There's something about the deserts around Joshua Tree that attracts the most interesting creative minds: from Salvation Mountain to theIntegratron to Hicksville Trailer Palace & Artist Retreat, there's so much imagination and innovation going on in what most would expect to be a barren desert wasteland. One such artist was Noah Purifoy, known for his sculptures an assemblage art, made of found materials.
Purifoy, born in Alabama in 1917, was a World War II veteran who studied art in college. That was what brought him to Southern California-- in 1953, he became the first African American to attend the Chouinard Art Institute (known today as CalArts). He graduated in 1956, just in time for him to witness the Watts Riots-- he drew a lot of inspiration from the riots, using charred, salvaged materials to "interpret the August event". From there, he realized he could use art to express himself and foster social change. In fact, he helped co-found the Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historical Park Art Center in 1970.
In the 1980's, he left Watts for the Mojave Desert-- quite a change of scenery! Over the course of about 15 years, he filled 10 acres of land with over 100 sculptures and other art installations made from found objects-- stuff most people would consider trash has found a second life here. Purifoy died in 2004, but his sculptures in the desert live on at the Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum, which preserves his works. It's like a wonderland filled with provoking, yet pecuilar sculptures. While some might see piles of junk (Purifoy was especially fascinated with the way his work decayed and was affected by the environment), others might find it whimsical and enchanting-- but either way, it's designed to make you think.
BONUS: Some of Purifoy's work has been loaned to an exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art... so if you don't have the time to make your way out to Joshua Tree, but still want a taste of the Mojave Desert inspiration, you needn't travel far.
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