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THINGS
TO DO IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA |
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Glass
Outhouse Art Gallery
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By Kay Taylor |
Visitors to Joshua Tree National Park,
entering at the West Entrance will find themselves just
five miles from what might well be the most unique art
gallery anywhere, The Glass Outhouse.
The Glass Outhouse Art Gallery, located on Thunder Road
just off Highway 62, is unique in several different
ways, beginning with its location: a lonely spot in
the desert, a few miles from the nearest town, Twentynine
Palms, yet the gallery draws artists and art collectors
from all over the country.
The gallery opened its doors in September, 2009, in
a refurbished building that had served owner/artist
Laurel Seidl as a place to raise rabbits. Illness forced
Laurel to find another venue for income, and with the
help of several handymen and one professional contractor,
the building underwent transformation from rabbit warren
to art gallery. It now has several attractive rooms
to accommodate artists’ work.
The first Saturday of every month (except July and August)
there is a Grand Opening to which everyone is invited,
a gala affair with refreshments, live music, and dancing
under the stars. Lights strung through the trees add
an air of enchantment to the event. The works of one
or two artists are featured and will hang for a month;
then another party marks the hanging of a new show.
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Since its first opening, it has become
“the place to show” as one artist described
it, for artists from all over California and several other
states.
The Gallery itself is just part of the “show.”
Trails around the property are dotted with interesting
and amusing pieces of “art” that may give
the viewer a chuckle. Bring your camera!
The Glass Outhouse Art Gallery is located on Thunder Road
and Highway 62, about five miles from Utah Trail and Highway
62. It’s open from 9 to 5 daily, closed through
July and August. Just drive in, park your car and honk;
someone will come to welcome you. And if you’re
wondering if there really is a glass outhouse, well, go
and see for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.
Also close to the Park’s East Entrance Headquarters
is The 29 Palms Inn, located on the ancient Oasis of Mara
where indigenous peoples lived for thousands of years.
Guests have their choice of accommodation from fifteen
possibilities, with most of the cottages designed on “Southwest”
architecture. Ten of the rooms or suites will accept pets.
Nearby is the Inn restaurant; breakfast is complimentary
to guests, and the swimming pool is beside the patio where
diners may wish to sit and enjoy the desert air and sunshine.
Some of the vegetables used in the fare are grown in the
Inn’s own garden which is open to visitors. Lunch
is served from 11 to 2 and dinner from 5 to 9 every night.
On Friday and Saturday, the kitchen serves
until 9:30 p.m. On Sundays brunch is served from 9 a.m.
to 2 p.m. A library holds maps and guidebooks to help
guests plan their activities.
With a little advance notice picnic lunches can be prepared
for guests planning a hike or travel. Massage is available
with a 24-hour notice.
Just across the street from the Inn is The Old School
House Museum, open Friday through Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
The oldest school house in the Morongo Basin was brought
to the site, and the rest of the museum built alongside
it. You can see where pioneer children went to school
long ago; there are also tools, housewares and more from
the early miners and pioneers to the area. Admission is
by donation only.
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Glass
Outhouse Art Gallery 29 Palms |
Glass
Outhouse Art Gallery |
When the Glass Outhouse first opened, they
had about a hundred people show up but none of them would
use the outhouse – the all have their picture taken
in it but they wouldn’t use it. Only one little kid
who was brave enough to use it. But now everybody uses it.
On a cloudy day it’s beautiful to be in there. It’s
an experience like you’ll never have in your life –
sitting on the throne with a 360 degree view of the sky. So
that’s how it came about.
One of the artists whose work is in The Glass Outhouse Gallery
shared some of her thoughts about showing here. “Laurel’s
desire to have a gallery that provides artists ‘a place’
to hang is not just that; her attitude is responsible for
creating an environment that is warm, open and assisting.
The outside experience – chairs, music under the stars
and moon provides a cozy, friendly, community feeling that
leaves everyone in a laid-back state of mind.
The Glass Outhouse Art Gallery is located at 77575 Highway
62, Twenty-nine Palms, California. Laurel Seidl can be reached
at P. O. Box 2228, 29 Palms, CA 92277. Laurel Seidl, owner
and creator of the Glass Outhouse |
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