This is another home I’ve wanted to tour for years. This 1960 deemed Class 1 historic site designed by William Krisel, is where Elvis and Priscilla Presley spent their honeymoon. It’s also referred to as “the pleasure dome”and “theAlexanderresidence” – as it was the home of designer Robert Alexander, his wife Helene, and daughter Jill. They lived there from 1960 – 1965. Very sadly, both Robert and Helene passed away in a tragic plane crash. Jill went to live with her aunt in Los Angeles.
I’ve always had a thing for unique eye catching doors.
Leonard Alexander, great uncle of Jill’s, leased the house to Elvis and Priscilla Presley. They honeymooned here in 1967.
After that, the house passed multiple hands: from a reclusive wife of a rancher to another owner cited by the city for letting the pool turn into a mosquito swamp. It was then repossessed by a Boston bank in 1987. Leonard Lewis purchased the house from the bank and turned it into a sideshow.
Bringing us to the new owners who had the sensible mantra of “how would the Alexanders do it” and made some renovations like adding a private balcony, raising the kitchen to accommodate modern furnisings and a brand new ceiling in the master bedroom.
The 4,700 square foot home has four living spaces within four 12-sided polygons. The four 30-degree-angled dodecagons (In geometry, a dodecagon, or 12-gon, is any twelve-sided polygon) rest at the four points of two facing , 45-degree triangles. Inner triangles comprise hallways and rooms connecting four main spaces.
The shape of the pool mimics the roof – which creates an ascending orientation.
Doors can be drawn to close off sections of the house away from public gatherings.
Thank you Modernism for opening up this home for our self-guided tour. We’re very happy to have finally seen it.
Here in the desert there is no shortage of gorgeous homes, but for Modernism week our focus is to celebrate and appreciate the preservation of midcentury architecture and design.
Today I got to tour the Wexler house, which interestingly enough, is a short walking distance from where I reside here in Palm Springs. While I always admired the outside of the house and wondered what lay behind the white walls, I had no idea of its importance of retaining the best of mid-century style and elegance. Now I know.
This is a Donald Allen Wexler (January 23, 1926 – June 26, 2015) designed home. Wexler was an influential Mid-Century modern architect whose work is predominantly in the Palm Springs area. He is known for having pioneered the use of steel in residential design.
H3K Home + Design worked with preservation consultant Susan Secoy Jenson (AIA – American Institute of Architects) to take this home back to its historic roots while keeping the original vision along with being able to support today’s lifestyle. No small feat.
Celebrating the home’s elongated flat roof with walls of glass, they delightfully blurred the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces, drawing the eye to the historic slump stone walls and wonderful pool area. The outside area exemplifies desert living and the mid-century modern experience. This home is a model of thoughtful architectural preservation enlivened by the best in modern design. It received a well deserved historic designation in 2022.
Photos: d. king
Modernism is on until February 25th. For tickets please visit:
My first home tour for Modernism week 2024 was a home I wanted to visit for a long time;
which turned out to be a fully immersive experience which felt like climbing into a 3-D painting. One painted by the artist known as Shag (Josh Agle), who reimagined this mid-century modern, tiki-inspired privately owned home to fit with his original designs.
If you’ve ever visited Palm Springs, you more than likely stopped by the Shag store on Palm Canyon. It’s a must-see on the visitors list as it contains an array of well curated limited-edition merchandise, original paintings, and fine art prints that span over 30 years of Shag’s career. I feel like it was all condensed into one home.
For this home, Shag drew upon his architectural studies and the aesthetic of his artwork to reinvent this classic 1958 home.
Modernist fans will recognize the core of the house, where Shag has preserved much of the original layout including the familiar 3-bedroom, 2-bath floor plan, as well as the tongue and groove ceilings.
While the centre of the home’s layout remains the same, everything else has been updated, expanded, and transformed, for the current homeowner, Brandon McBurney; who enjoys hosting philanthropic events.
In collaboration with Brandon and John-Patrick Flynn of Brandtopia, the Shag team has created an entirely new exterior offering grand curb appeal.
The front entry has been expanded and the original breezeway has been converted into a swank party lounge. Beyond the lounge, the addition of a casita offers a quiet retreat with a unique vantage point of the pool’s and surrounding areas.
It’s amazing what people can create with a vision, a team, some cash and cachet. Bravo for a job well done!
Here in the desert there’s always a flurry of fun activity taking place. If I haven’t been on here lately it’s exactly for that reason.
My friend Candy and I, trying to be part of Shelley Heffler’s art installation. We, and the art, are complex piecesof work.Got swept off my feet by five guys at a house party. It’s not art, but it is creative skill and imagination.
If it’s not a fashion, music or art event, it’s a new venue, restaurant or book signing. My sister was also here visiting and making contacts. So I’m just catching up. Listen; I’m certainly not complaining about being able to attend these outings; I’m just winding down before the next surge.
After going back to “Wally’s Desert Turtle” (yes; that’s the name of a popular restaurant in Rancho Mirage) for a Friday fashion luncheon, a few of our group of women decided to check out the Perez Art District. It was a first visit for some of these full time residents.
L-R: Mini, Tammy, Kathy, Debbie, Libby, Candy. You can consider the food here a work of art and taste.
I’ve driven by Perez Rd. countless times but had no idea that just around the corner (and a bit) from this Industrial area with offices and car dealerships, lies over 40 art studios and galleries.
On the fourth Friday of every month from 4-7 pm,Desert Open Studios on Perez holds an Art Walk where you can see artists practicing in their workspaces. Walk around, visit the studios and learn about their processes, and buy art directly. There really is something for everyone. Plus, it’s dog friendly (always a plus.)
I enjoyed meeting several local artists along with friends Candy and Libby. We didn’t get to visit every gallery, but there are more Fridays coming up to explore the rest. We loved exploring the studios.
Anne Bedrick Fine Art
One artist who stood out for us was Shelley Heffler.
Shelley Heffler Contemporary Art
Her contemporary art studio contains sustainable art. Shelley is deeply committed to raising awareness about the environment through her unique art form –which is collecting discarded advertising banners and turning them into captivating works of art that can withstand all weather. Through meticulous hand cutting techniques, she fractures the initial image and repurposes it into beautiful weavings, collages, or three-dimensional sculptures that bear little or no resemblance to the original.
When she’s done they turn into complex abstract pieces with unique color schemes. Her hope is that her pieces not only provoke dialogue but also inspire action. Commissions are welcome. Each new project is an opportunity to further explore the intersection of art and environmental consciousness.
68845 Perez Road, Building H, Studio 14, Cathedral City, CA 92234
Had the pleasure of attending the season opener of “THE MAGIC FLUTE”at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Saturday night with my friend Rosa.
Opera is a rare art form that inspires and exhilarates all of the senses, and more often than not; procures life-long aficionados, also referred to as fanatics. Rosa is one of those, whereas I used to be more familiar with Broadway-type shows and musicals.
Kirsten MacKinnon and Owen McCausland – Emily Cooper Photography
Opera is trying to make sense of the nonsense. No good opera plot can be sensible because no one sings when they get stabbed or bitten by a dragon. It’s just an imaginative fairy tale set to music with romance (usually a damsel in distress and some bad or misunderstood guy), dancing, tragedy, comedy, special effects and a little supernatural. If they throw a king or queen and a crazy bird man into the mix; all the more magical.
There were bits and pieces of all of that in the Magic Flute. If you’re not already aware; this is considered a timeless classic; one of the greatest operas ever written. It concerns the search for truth and reason (I never did get the reason though), love and enlightenment. It follows the adventures of Prince Tamino and this silly bird-catcher called Papageno on their quest to rescue Pamina – daughter of the Queen of the Night.
Audrey Luna as The Queen of the Night with Kirsten MacKinnon – Emily Cooper Photography
Prince Tamino plays the Magic Flute and discovers it has the power to calm the most savage of beasts. Tamino and Pamina finally meet and pledge to endure the trials of initiation into the Temple of Wisdom together; trials that have their basis in the Freemasonry movement of the 18th century, of which Mozart was a member – a sneaky way of putting that in there without even realizing it. I knew there was some trial because they kept referring to it, but didn’t understand why, or where it was going to take place. Anyway, freemasonry is one of the oldest fraternal organizations in the world. More on that later…as I try not to go too off topic.
There’s lots going on in this 3 hour opera, including some monsters and 3 damsels that keep showing up out of nowhere. However, I must give special mention to the costumes and set design which were breathtaking. It is a fantasy after all I keep reminding myself.
And let’s remember that Mozart wrote it over 230 years ago.
“THE MAGIC FLUTE” was the last opera Mozart composed. It premiered on September 30th, 1791 – roughly three months before he died at the age of 35. Mozart is perhaps the greatest composer in history. In his short creative lifetime he wrote more than 600 works, he redefined the symphony, composed some of the greatest operas ever written and lifted chamber music to new heights of artistic achievement. That’s some resume!
SECRET SOCIETY: Both Mozart and the opera’s librettist, Emanuel Schikaneder, were devoted Freemasons, a fraternity famous for secret rites and rituals, at a time when the Masonic order was frowned upon by the authorities and mistrusted by the public. Its meetings were mysterious to outsiders and the order was believed to be connected to the principles of the Enlightenment, so established political leaders were a little nervous about it. The emperor of Austria even restricted the number of Masonic lodges allowed to operate in the country.
So, while Mozart’s drama fell into the general category of “magic opera” — works based on folk tales, with plenty of stunts, scene changes and spectacular stage effects — it was also a political statement in disguise, filled with veiled Masonic symbolism, including an homage to a Masonic initiation ceremony in Act II balancing four elements (earth, air, water, fire) in perfect harmony of the universe.
“The happy medium – truth in all things – is no longer either known or valued; to gain applause, one must write things so inane that they might be played on barrel-organs, or so unintelligible that no rational being can comprehend them, though on that very account, they are likely to please” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Such was our evening last night at the opening of “THE SHINE.”
Presented by “THE BEAUMONT STUDIOS ARTS SOCIETY“which aims to advance the public’s knowledge and interest in the Vancouver art scene through participation in events and artistic exhibitions.
“THE SHINE” is described as a Stephen King themed burlesque and cocktail bonanza. I cannot say for sure which part I found most intriguing as it was all so well put together.
It was my first time at the studios so I had nothing to compare it to, and no expectations – which turned out to be a big surprise in a gorey meets glam kind of way. Lots of twists and turns (literally) in a pre-Halloween scary celebration of some of the “King of Horrors” most iconic figures from “THE SHINING,” “CARRIE,” and “MISERY” – three of my personal favourite creepy movies of all time.
The evening started with a lineup outside the studios before being let in. My first thought was this might turn out to be a bit of a let down. But thankfully it turned out to be the opposite.
Once inside, we were greeted by the infamous Annie Wilkes character from “MISERY” (played by Kathy Bates in the movie) handing out two drink tickets while the novelist character of Paul Sheldon (played by James Caan in the movie) is typing away frantically at an old fashioned type writer. Do you remember this line from the movie –“God came to me last night and told me your purpose for being here. I am going to help you write a new book” – because Wilkes didn’t like the ending of his latest book. Still gives me the creeps.
Then we were led into the first themed room (of three) to get our first cocktail served up by a clown who dropped a bit of blood on top for colour. And it went on from there. A little burlesque, another cocktail served up by Lloyd, the iconic bartender from “THE SHINING,” the eerie twins from the Overlook Hotel did a twisty-turned cirque-like performance, Jack Torrence (the Jack Nicholson character) makes a vaudevillian and villainous appearance, and finally; the prom scene from “CARRIE” including that bloody pail. Don’t want to give too much away because this extravaganza is on until October 27th. If you reside in or around Vancouver you should really try to get a ticket for something unique, refreshing, campy and utterly spellbinding. The talented group really outdid themselves. Fab, Fun, Entertainment.
A Bit About the Beaumont:
This place exists to inspire and engage artists, designers, and creative small business owners with space, events and opportunities to work together, play together, share, learn, create and produce art and artistic projects and engage with the community around it. It is a place for the public to engage with art, learn from our artist community and appreciate creativity for what it brings to our lives.
The Beaumont was established in 2004 by artist Jude Kusnierz, as an open and supportive environment for a wide variety of creative professionals. Being a full-time professional artist for over a decade, Jude’s goal was to create a unique environment where artists, like herself, could work in a beautiful, safe, reasonably priced, positive and upbeat environment, a place that would offer opportunity for growth, mentoring and cross-pollination of ideas and business.
Art Downtown is an outdoor summer art festival where both new and established artists are encouraged to create and sell their work in an open setting that will inspire others and change the way quality art is circulated.
While galleries will always be a mainstay, this is a unique opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while appreciating art in the heart of downtown Vancouver while listening to live music.
This initiative encourages artists of all backgrounds in their quest for self-expression with various incentives in an inclusive space to share their creations with the public.
From now until September, artists will be presenting their work Wednesdays & Fridays at Lot 19, 855 West Hastings from 11 AM till 5 PM.
Brought to you in partnership with the Downtown Van (formerly Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association).
You know when you’re on the fence about going to a Shakespearean play after a long days drive coming back from the Okanagan?
We’re so lucky to be within 5 minutes walking distance. Photo: d. king
But you already have tickets for opening night and you know there’s something different about this show but you’re not completely sure if it will be hit or miss? And you don’t even realize that the Okanagan will play a big part in this production?
Well…don’t miss this presentation of “As You Like It” if you live in Vancouver or you just happen to be visiting. Get thee to the Bard on the Beach to see something unique, uplifting, professionally done and so much fun. I haven’t enjoyed a show this much since I saw Cirque de Soleil’s “Love” in Las Vegas.
Photo & Image Design: Emily Cooper
If you’re a Beatles fan it will be especially fun because this is a twist on the original. This adaptation features the music of the Beatles – performed by professional musicians who are also actors in the play. And they’re very good.
The Company of As You Like It (2023) – Photo by Tim Matheson
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players” – Shakespeare
The Story (taken from the program):
Wrestling for Power
It’s the 1960s in Vancouver. Dame Frances, a powerful business owner, has taken control of the family firm and forced her sister, Dame Senior, to leave town. She permits her sister’s daughter, Rosalind, to stay because of Rosalind’s close friendship with her own daughter Celia.
The action begins at a wrestling match. Oliver de Boys, who manages a champion wrestler named Charles, argues with his younger brother Orlando. Orlando is angry that Oliver has mistreated him and held back his inheritance since their father died. Orlando decides to wrestle for his fortune. At the match, he meets Rosalind and they fall instantly in love.
The Great Escape
Dame Frances orders Rosalind to leave Vancouver, as she no longer trusts her. Rosalind and Celia decide to run away to the Okanagan forest. Rosalind disguises herself as a young man, Ganymede, and Celia becomes Aliena, his sister. Touchstone, a family employee, goes with them. Meanwhile, Adam, a longtime de Boys employee, warns Orlando that Oliver plans to have him killed. They also escape to the Okanagan. In the forest, Ganymede (Rosalind) and Aliena (Celia) meet Silvius and Corin, two local farmers, and arrange to buy a farm. Nearby, Orlando and Adam stumble upon Dame Senior, the exiled sister of Dame Frances, and her companions, who take them in.
Love Blooms in the Woods
Orlando leaves love notes about Rosalind throughout the forest. He meets Ganymede (Rosalind), who proposes that Orlando treat “him” as Rosalind, so he can practice his wooing. Elsewhere, Silvius pines for another farmer, Phoebe, while Touchstone meets Audrey and they pair up. In Vancouver, Dame Frances is furious that the girls and Orlando have disappeared. She demands that Oliver bring his brother back or else she will ruin him. But when Oliver shows up at the young women’s farm, he announces he has reconciled with his brother after Orlando saved him from a mountain lion. Oliver and Aliena fall in love.
Help!
Orlando grows tired of Ganymede’s game and believes his love for Rosalind is hopeless. Other relationships are also complicated: Silvius is still in love with Phoebe, but she’s smitten with Ganymede. Claiming “he” can work magic, Ganymede invites everyone to gather the next morning, when all will be resolved. Could it be true that “all you need is love”?
What a privilege it was attending the opening night of the very last show of the 2022-2033 opera season – Richard Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman” presented by Vancouver Opera; the largest opera company in Western Canada.
Life on the Ledge Photo: d. king
There is only one show left -on May 7th. See link below for tickets.
The performances always take place at the spectacular *Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The theatre is a perfect setting to complement the range of productions that are staged here with an atrium that has sweeping staircases, gorgeous chandeliers and reflective surfaces. Snacks and wine are available to purchase before the show and during intermission.
Sidenote: you guessed it – the theatre was named after its most famous patron, the late Queen Elizabeth II, who attended a concert here when the theatre opened in July 1959.
Turbulence at Sea
The Flying Dutchman is a haunting story based on a European maritime legend about a sailor and his daughter who encounter a ghost during a storm at sea.
The Dutchman, who has been condemned to wander for eternity, is searching for a bride to finally bring him peace. This tragic tale of love and sacrifice is the composer’s first masterpiece and features magnificent orchestration of Wagnerian proportions.
Not to jump ahead but I’m really looking forward to next season’s productions which will begin with Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” followed by “Don Pasquale” and finally the towering opera classic “Carmen.”
With my friend Rosa who is an avid opera enthusiast. I can always count on Rosa to be my plus-one for an opera date and we enjoy a glass of wine before the show and a late night snack afterwards – usually at Joey’s on Burrard (fyi: the kitchen there closes at 1:30 am)
selfie outside the theatre
*Built in 1959 as part of an international design competition, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre served as a prototype for more than a generation of theatre complexes across Canada and the U.S. The architects’ vision was to create a “strong, unitary building” that gave “maximum delight and spatial excitement”.
Never has art and fashion co-existed so fervently as with the Coachella Valley’s celebrated husband and wife Pop Art team – Karen and Tony Barone. Their works have been collected and exhibited around the world.
Karen + Tony standing next to Tony’s rabbit paintings. Photo: d. king
I jumped at the chance to visit their hosted open house last week at Goldfield Home and Art on El Paseo in Palm Desert – during the monthly art walk along El Paseo. While sipping champagne, my friend Candy introduced me to her friend, Mary Orlin; who’s husband Jon is filming a documentary about this dynamic art team duo. Something I don’t want to miss as soon as it comes out.
Must say the studio knows how to greet guests in proper fashion. Photo: d. king
I’ve never put myself in so many photos but it was so much fun with plenty of distractions. Photo: Ramona Huth
Almost every fashion show I’ve gone to, the Barone’s have been there too, as well as every Modernism opening night party at the convention centre and other happening social events around town. They’re the topic of many conversations and for good reason. Wherever they show up your eyes immediately travel to Karen; a tiny, colorful chameleon-like butterfly. If anyone is her own muse, it’s Karen. Fun and fabulous with her fantasy fashion choices that compliment her personality. Karen has been designing clothes for most of her life; out of necessity, she says, due to her “tinier” figure that makes it difficult to find things that fit. Oh; I hear you Karen. Ha!
L-R : Candy, Mary, Karen, Tony. Photo: d. kingMy friend Ramona just lounging around. Photo: d. king
Karen herself is a work of art. A kind of mythological being as Tony has exhibited with his goddess-like visual paintings of her. Some of their sculptures and paintings appear childlike but many come with a message.
Remember the 9 giant wild rabbit installation you couldn’t miss when travelling from Rancho Mirage to Palm Desert? Well, you had to be here.
Photo: Desert Sun (a few of the bunnies)
The aluminum sculptures were created by the Barone’s. I don’t know this to be fact, but I’m wondering if it was to do with calling attention to the wild rabbit population across Europe being wiped out due to a deadly disease in the last few years. I’ll have to find out.
And this one:
Photo: taken from their website
DETAIL: Karen Barone enters the photo … not to take sides but “for scale”…
There are many issues dividing our country and ripping this nation apart… the one being addressed in this work of art is “The right to bare arms vs gun control”… Each side of this debate are deeply entrenched … this painting enters the conversation in terms of highlighting the division.
The “ENDANGERED SPECIES” is America … America is represented by the United States one dollar bill … also symbolic of the USA is the American Bald Eagle … in this painting the eagle is presented as a mythological female… part human … part bird: head of an eagle … wings for arms…
Check out this unique video art: “Spicy Playtime – Don’t Card Me” with Karen Barone
The adventure continues: Check out this 2020 article in local paper “Desert Sun” re Karen and Tony Barone’s self-guided art tour through Coachella Valley.
This 1960 deemed Class 1 historic site designed by William Krisel, is where Elvis and Priscilla Presley spent their honeymoon. It’s also referred to as “the pleasure dome”and “the Alexander residence” – as it was the home of designer Robert Alexander, his wife Helene, and daughter Jill. They lived there from 1960 – 1965. Very sadly, both Robert and Helene passed away in a tragic plane crash. Jill went to live with her aunt in Los Angeles.
Doors can be drawn to close off sections of the house away from public gatherings.
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
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