Volunteers helped Rivard complete the mural, accentuating the diverse talent of the community. “I love sharing my art with others and making new connections and new memories rooted in creativity,” Rivard says. “Hopefully people driving by will see the mural and see the Palm Desert Public Works for their heroic actions during Tropical Storm Hilary, and know they are in good hands in the future.”
Historically, Palm Desert is no stranger to community-led art projects. Roughly 100 Palm Desert residents, for instance, helped create the mosaics and ceramic pieces that adorn a work titled “Baja Palapa” along Fred Waring Drive, which was designed by Donna Billick and Arthur Gonzalez.
In August 2023, children transformed a blank wall during a spray paint workshop led by a professional artist at Flat Black Art Supplies in Palm Desert. The urban art supply store was created solely as a retail business in 2015 but has since grown into a broader event space and gallery where artists from the Coachella Valley and beyond can showcase their work. Owner Pete Salcido says the store has morphed into a “hub for all artists.”
And the city’s 50th anniversary in November 2023 included several interactive art experiences to watch and participate in — from a mural live-painted in front of attendees to multisensory installations and arts and crafts stations for kids.
