Joshua Tree, Ca – The High Desert is quickly becoming a destination for thousands year round. One of its fastest growing events is HWY 62 ART TOURS, taking place over 3 weekends in October, featuring over 200 artists opening their studios to showcase artwork. Part of the fun and intrigue is its self-driven aspect, best put by Art Tours Director, Bill Green:

“The best thing about the Art Tours is that you never know what you’ll discover. With over 30 different categories of art, you might see a tile house followed by an abstract painter followed by a sculptor. You get to choose what you want based on your interest. There are so many different artists here with unique studio spaces that you can’t possibly see them all. It’s a big reason why we went to three weekends this year.”

The annual Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours is sponsored by the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council (http://www.mbcac.org) a non-profit founded in 2002 supporting high desert artists. The event features three weekends of self-guided tours to the art studios, galleries, and exhibitions of over 200 desert artists, plus special events.:

October 5th & 6th – 9:00am-5:00pm
October 12th & 13th – 9:00am-5:00pm
October 19th & 20th – 9:00am-5:00pm

Purchase art directly from the artists. Covering 50 miles over three weekends along Hwy 62, the studio tour is like a desert treasure hunt. Maps are provided, and drivers set out to discover the high desert art scene. Communities included Joshua Tree, Landers, Twentynine Palms, Wonder Valley, Yucca Valley, and Pioneertown. Catalogs and maps for the Hwy 62 Art Tours are available at area galleries, inclusing Hwy62 Art Gallery, Chambers of Commerce, Twentynine Palms Visitor Center, and MBCAC. www.hwy62arttours.org

in its 18th year, it is a one-of-a-kind experience for art lovers and art buyers. A self-guided tour of more than 100 open studios throughout the Joshua Tree Gateway Communities meet and see artists in their unique studio spaces, discuss their work & creative endeavors. Individual arts by medium can be found here : http://hwy62arttours.org/artists-by-medium/, Artists by Location : http://hwy62arttours.org/artists-by-location/, Art Tours P.O. Box 643, Joshua Tree, CA 92252 arttours@mbcac.org