La Quinta Transforms This Week With Annual Arts Fest

The La Quinta Arts Festival, which has been ranked the #1 Fine Art Festival and #1 Fine Craft Festival in the Nation by Art Fair Sourcebook 2014, is scheduled for its 32nd annual event March 6-9, 2014 from 10 am to 5 pm at the scenic La Quinta Civic Center Campus.

“The Festival has grown into an experience where art is the star but there is truly something for everyone,” said Christi Salamone, executive director of La Quinta Arts Foundation, which presents the Festival. “We have amazing dining options on our Restaurant Row, cocktails, lounge areas, live entertainment and the most incredible art from all over the country. There is something new to experience each day of the Festival.”

With 234 contemporary artists from 36 states, Canada, Israel and Nicaragua, the Festival features a wide variety of mediums including Ceramics, Drawing & Pastel, Fiber/Textile, Glass, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture and Wood.

Joining favorites Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Fisherman’s Market & Grill and West Coast Hofbrau on Restaurant Row is a new bar on the amphitheatre lawn area promoting Make This a Mimosa Morning; Zen Oasis Lounge presented by Shanghai Reds serving  Asian styled lighter fare including Edamame, Mandarin Shrimp and Chicken Salads, Chicken Satay,  Ahi Poke and Vegetarian Egg Rolls and more.  Don’t miss The Chocolate Bar tended by the sweet masterminds from Brandini Toffee, who will be dipping creamy vanilla ice cream bars into decadent milk or dark chocolate, then rolled in their famous toffee featured on Oprah.

The La Quinta Arts Festival 2014 Featured Artists are:

• Teresa Saia, Painting, Pastel (Seattle WA) - Saia was chosen as the 2014 Poster Artist for her original pastel entitled “Spring’s Gentle Awakening”— the featured image for the museum quality La Quinta Arts Festival 2014 commemorative poster. 
• Jason Napier, Sculpture (Friday Harbor, WA) – Napier’s bronze sculpture of a regal peacock named “His Majesty” is the focal image of La Quinta Arts Festival’s 2014 marketing campaign declaring that La Quinta Arts Festival is “Proud as a peacock to be the #1 Fine Art Festival in the Nation.”  
• John Ha, Mixed Media (Garden Grove, CA) - Ha is best known for his signature Koi fish mixed media paintings where each fish explores various themes from pop culture to customary Asian symbolism.  An image from John’s “Legend of the Koi” series is featured on the men’s commemorative t-shirts.

Headlining Festival’s entertainment component is DiosGracias VoceDans Theater, a company of curated dancer/singers, who utilize the full range of the body as the instrument for artistic expression — integrating butoh-inspired movement and contemporary dance forms with vocal production including singing, reciting text, and vocalizing. 

Festival’s daily entertainment lineup includes the soothing flamenco guitar stylings of Milton Merlos, and crowd favorites Oscar Reynolds and Steve Madaio and Company.

While you are at the festival, visit FESTIVAL.LQAF.com from your mobile device to locate individual artists, all artists in a medium, entertainment and dining options and other event information.

Ticket prices are: Adults $12, Multi-Day Pass $15, Children under 12 are free. Tickets may be purchased at the gate or in advance at www.LQAF.com for a value added offer. 

Free parking is available in the Village of La Quinta, along with paid valet and self parking options.

La Quinta Arts Festival is presented by La Quinta Arts Foundation (LQAF) in partnership with Premier Sponsor The City of La Quinta.  Major corporate sponsors include Rabobank and Integrated Wealth Management.

Event proceeds have to date funded LQAF scholarship awards totaling $1.1 million to students pursuing an education in the visual arts.