Now Showing: Expressions of Contemporary Latin American Art and Mongolia: Beneath the Eternal Blue Sky January 5 - 27, 2019 Special Event January 26, 5-7:30 PM Book Signing and Slide Presentation by Nick Agelidis Gallery Hours : Tuesday - Sunday 10:00 - 4:00 CLOSED MONDAYS |
About UsThe Borrego Art Institute (BAI) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization with the goal to inspire and enrich the community of Borrego Springs by offering a venue for the public to experience, create, and enjoy all forms of art. Our distinctive campus features the Gallery, the Pottery studio and workshop, the ArtFarm gardens, the KidsArt programs and our on-site Restaurant, Kesling's Kitchen all in the heart of Borrego Springs’ core business district at Christmas Circle and Palm Canyon Drive. A community resource and gathering place, The BAI is an important catalyst for adult and children's education, participation, art appreciation, and a great meal. Please join us for classes, shows and other events, and as a member. If you are an artist, a resident, a visitor, a family, an art lover, or simply a curious explorer, we look forward to welcoming you!
What's New at BAI?
TWO GREAT SHOWS IN THE GALLERY FOR JANUARY "Expressions of Contemporary Latin American Art" opened with a night of music by Mariachi Mixteco on January 5th. This highly attended reception once again was catered by our restaurant, Kesling's Kitchen.
Also open in January, in conjunction with the Latino show, are the photographs of acclaimed travel photographer, Nick Agelidis, from his book "Mongolia: Beneath the Eternal Blue Sky." A special event is planned for January 26th, 5:00-7:30 pm at which time Nick will present a talk, slide show and book signing. The event is scheduled to be attended by dignitaries from San Diego and Mongolia to celebrate Borrego's ongoing friendship with Mongolia. Nick's photos will hang in the gallery January 5-27.  Congratulations to Adaire Gibb of Victoria, BC, Canada, our Customer Appreciation winner for December! Each month we will hold a customer appreciation drawing from entries submitted by gallery customers. Our Gift Shop has new work arriving daily and sales have been brisk. It's not too early to start shopping for Christmas and securing those unique one-of-a-kind art pieces for which we have become known.
We are accepting memberships. For Members, artist's entry fees for entering shows are waived except for the Plein Air Invitational. Members also receive discounts on gallery workshops, and free admission to seminars and demonstrations. To become a member, go to Join Us in the menu at the top, click on Become a Member.
February will bring an expanded show of the Clay and Glass show that we have had in the past. This year we will celebrate Earth's Elements: Clay, Glass, Wood, Metal, Fiber. The show will run February 2-24 with the opening reception to be held February 2, 5 to 7:30 pm. Showing in conjunction with Earth's Elements will be the annual Anza Borrego Foundation Photo Contest exhibit of winning photographs. The reception will be held the same night as Earth's Elements, February 2, 5 to 6 pm. Sculpture artist Lynn Creighton , who had a showing of her bronzes of women in conjunction with the Plein Air Invitational last Spring, will return in March 2019 for a showing of her new series of bronzes.
NEW ARTFARM DIRECTOR TASKED TO OVERSEE THE DEVELOPING PROJECT
To learn more about the ArtFarm's plans for the 2018/2019 season, click on ArtFarm News The Orchard is In!
Over 40 fruit trees, varieties especially selected for desert growing, have been planted in the ArtFarm Orchard and Garden. They include nectarines, apricots, apples, figs, pomegranates, peaches, plums and kumquats. Available in the Gallery - ArtFarm T-shirts. These are for sale in the Gallery store for $20 each plus tax. Proceeds will go toward continued funding for the ArtFarm.
| Current and Upcoming Events at BAI
Kesling's Kitchen is OPEN EVERY DAY. To see the current menu, go to the restaurant tab and click on current menu in the drop down menu. The restaurant is open Monday - Friday, 11:00 am to 9:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday, 8:30 am to 9:00 pm. 760-767-7600. Kesling's Kitchen is now doing Weekend Brunch. With the start of the season, Kessling is now serving "Not Quite Lunch" on Saturdays and Sundays, 8:30 am to 11:00 am. To see their wonderful and delicious offering, go to their menu at Not Quite Lunch Menu Kesling's Kitchen Catering: Book your party trays from our great catering menu. Go to the Restaurant tab and click on Kesling's Catering in the drop down menu. Be sure to check out Kesling's Art Wall. Each month a new artist will be featured in the restaurant on the wall between the gallery and the restaurant. Our Featured Artist for the month of January is Barbara Rivera of San Jacinto, CA. Her work is also being shown in Expressions of Contemporary Latin American Art in the BAI Gallery.
The Pottery Mural Project Funded by a matching $10,000 grant, the Pottery is enlisting community involvement in creating a mural on the outside South wall of the Borrego Art Institute building. The mural will celebrate the arts in Borrego Springs and is scheduled for completion in March 2019. The community is invited to become involved. Stop in at the Pottery studio in the Mall (just east of Kendals Cafe) and join in the fun...or just see the mural in progress. To follow along with the story of the mural, click on The Pottery. 2019 SEASON SCHEDULE The Pottery Studio is located adjacent to the High School swimming pool on Cahuilla Road off of Borrego Springs Road. During school hours, anyone new to the pottery much check in at the school office. Find us under the big blue canopy.
MISS BORREGO PAGEANT SHINES BECAUSE OF KIDSART PROGRAM BAI art teacher Leslie Duncan and the art program kids decorate the Pagaent stage each year. See story under KidsArt PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAM Our BAI supported Photography program at the Middle School, taught by Tom Hogan, one of our BAI volunteers and a professional photographer, will continue in the 2018/2019 school year. The class completed a video, Big Little Town, which was shown during the Borrego Film Festival in January 2018. To view the video, turn up your sound and click on https://vimeo.com/246308644
WELCOME NEW and RENEWED MEMBERS: December: Arnold Meloche...San Diego, CA Sandy Zelasko...Valley Center, CA Bella Kessler...Portland, OR Nita Wipper...Borrego Springs Malia VN Dailey...Palm Spring, CA Stephen Swintek...Huntington Beach, CA Barbara Matson...Borrego Springs Helen Wickes...Oakland, CA Pamela Petterson...Borrego Springs LoAnn Chan...Borrego Springs Marilyn Bushre...Borrego Springs Katie Wilhelm...Borrego Springs Laura Buxton...San Diego, CA Stuart Bailey...Desert Hot Springs, CA Ann Smith...Encinitas, CA Linda Mautz...Borrego Springs Barbara Tartre...Borrego Springs Bettie Rikansrud...Julian, CA January: Kari Koskinen...Jamul, CA Christie Barber...Borrego Springs Elaine Yates...Blaine, WA Jon Moor...Borrego Springs Deborah Behnke...Julian, CA Catherine Smith...San Diego, CA Yvette Murillo...San Diego, CA Luciano Demasi...San Diego, CA Deborrah Henry...Encinitas, CA DONORS CORNER 2018 Donations: |
Introducing Wade Beane, new director for the ArtFarm. After spending hundreds of nights camping under the back-country stars, Wade has made Borrego Springs his full-time home. Growing up in the Midwest, surrounded by farms and childhood memories of picking giant zucchinis from the family garden plus his love of the outdoors, inspired him to teach environmental studies and organic farming for public school and Montessori students. This passion for helping students live responsibly led to Humane Education where he spent 12 years designing non-profit programs, served as executive director for a humane society, and trained thousands of volunteers in caring for animals and people in need. Wade has a BA degrees in Philosophy, Religious Studies, and Science Education, and attended Northern Illinois University to receive his Masters of Science in Education. 
