Overview of the Joshua Treenial 2025
For fans of Desert X installations seeking new artistic experiences, the fifth edition of the Joshua Treenial is set to provide an exciting opportunity this fall. This event, which celebrates the unique character of Joshua Tree, features a range of art, installations, performances, and community-building activities. Founded in 2015 by KJ Baysa and Bernard Leibov, the Joshua Treenial is produced by BoxoPROJECTS, with many of the installations and performances taking place at this venue as well as iconic local spots like The Integratron and Art Queen.
The 2025 edition will run from November 8 to 16, with the theme “Desert Futures” highlighting works that inspire adaptation and creativity in the high desert. Most installations and events are free to attend, though performances at The Integratron require tickets. Fourteen artists, all connected to the desert, will contribute to the programming alongside several cultural partners.
Key Dates and Viewing Times
The opening reception for the Joshua Treenial will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. on November 8 at BoxoPROJECTS, located at 62-732 Sullivan Road in Joshua Tree. From November 9 to 16, the various art installations will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at BoxoPROJECTS. Additionally, visitors can view the installations by appointment between November 10 and 14. To schedule an appointment, email [email protected].
Performances will occur from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on November 15 at The Integratron, located at 2477 Belfield Blvd. in Landers. Partamian and Monypeny will perform “Harmonic 486” at the venue.
Participating Artists and Their Works
This year’s program features a diverse array of artists and their innovative pieces:
- Ben Allanoff (Joshua Tree)presents “Gassho 3,” a 20-foot-tall installation made of steel and dried plant material that explores themes of humanity and gender balance.
- Yvonne Buchanan (Morongo Valley)offers “Anchors,” a GPS app that brings spirits and past memories into the present through sight, sound, and smell.
- Carlos Ramirez (Indio)creates “Xochipilli,” a piece that contrasts pre-colonial reverence for nature with contemporary waste and excess.
- Coco Hall (Joshua Tree)presents “You May Go Now,” which uses objects like teddy bears and remote controls to reflect on displacement and migration.
- Perry Hoberman (Twentynine Palms)showcases “Fault/Fold/Fragment,” a visual and aural piece that uses projections on boulders to explore time and space.
- Adriana Lopez-Ospina (Indio)contributes “Resonance,” a series of woven structures that blend traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation.
- Tyler Morgan (Charleston, South Carolina, previously Palms Springs)presents “Untitled,” a structure inspired by Chinese agricultural symbols and modern activism.
- Caroline Partamian (Yucca Valley) and Derek Monypenycollaborate on “Harmonic 486,” a musical score based on the Integratron’s design.
- Randy Polumbo (Joshua Tree and New York City)creates “Mirage,” a water feature powered by solar energy that offers a technoorganic oasis.
- Ethan Primason (Yucca Valley)presents “Z1, Z2, Z3,” a sculptural triptych carved from basalt.
- Dorene Quinn (Morongo Valley)offers “Cholla Skeleton Regeneration,” an installation that reuses cholla skeletons to symbolize preservation.
- Heidi Schwegler (Yucca Valley)presents “Familiar,” a spiritual alter ego blending human and desert elements.
- Nicola Vruwink (Landers)creates “RE-FUSE(D),” a series of totemic forms exploring environmental sustainability.
Cultural Partnerships
Nine cultural partners will join the Joshua Treenial to explore “Desert Futures” through workshops, performances, exhibitions, and reading groups. These include Bezerk Productions, Compound Yucca Valley, DESERTRADE, Goat Gallery, Harrison House Music Arts & Ecology, High Desert Test Sites, JT Lab, Aaron and Case Sheppard, and Yucca Valley Material Lab. Partner programming will run from November 7 to 16 at various locations.
For more information, visit boxoprojects.com/joshuatreenial/.
Dining Suggestions
While visiting Joshua Tree, consider stopping by Crossroads Cafe or Joshua Tree Coffee Company for a meal or coffee. A new spot, Mojave Gold in nearby Yucca Valley, is also worth checking out.
