What do you love most about desert life?
The desert gives me space — both physical and mental — to create. Its vast horizons, dramatic light, and quietude fuel my painting practice and allow my work the space to breathe. Cathedral City offers me a view that feeds my inspiration daily. The creative energy on Perez Road, from artists to upholsterers to mechanics, also fuels me with its hands-on, hardworking community.
What should visitors know about The Perez Art District?
The Perez Art District comes alive every fourth Friday from October through May, when artists open their studios to the public. It’s a vibrant, welcoming scene.
You co-founded the Desert Open Studios event. What should folks know about it?
Founded by local artists and run by Chris Blades, Desert Open Studios invites visitors into the creative heart of the Coachella Valley. The 2025 tour runs Jan. 23–25 with newly curated self-guided routes through over 160 working studios, offering a rare and personal look at how art is made.
Favorite spots in Cathedral City?
Grab lunch at Salsas Restaurant on Date Palm Drive or dinner at Desert Thai. Stop by The Gilded Owl for fine furniture and design surprises. Catch a film at the historic theater, Mary Pickford Is D’Place, and don’t miss the “daytime disco for your soul,” Hot Lips Coffee Shop.
What sets the city apart from other Coachella Valley cities?
Cathedral City is a place where people still work with their hands. From upholstery to tilework to art, it’s a community rooted in craft and care in a city where making things still matters.
