“THE SEARCHERS” marked the final iteration of High Desert Test Sites’ sun-scorched biennial in Southern California’s arid Morongo Basin. Since 2002, the nonprofit has worked with over four hundred and fifty artists on a dozen biennials, twenty-five solo projects, and countless events. Primarily, programming occurs around the rapidly growing cities of Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, and Wonder Valley. HDTS 2015, though, absconded to Green River, Utah, and the edition I participated in, HDTS 2013, stretched seven hundred miles, with sixty projects from Joshua Tree to Albuquerque. Guest curator Iwona
Update: 6:40 p.m.
Fire crews from Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley responded to an outdoor fire at the Sky Village Swap Meet in Yucca Valley Monday (June 28) at approximately 1:15 p.m. Arriving fire crews found a large vendor area well involved with fire, spreading to nearby Joshua Trees and threatening other vendor areas. Sheriff’s Deputies blocked off the road behind the Grocery Outlet shopping center as fire crews battled the blaze. Crews had the fire knocked down in about 25 minutes. No injuries were reported. The fire is under investigation.
Fire crews responded to a fire at the Sky Village Swap Meet in Yucca Valley. SBC fire courtesy photo.