Kip's Desert Book Club
a canticle for leibowitz - walter m. miller, jr.
march 2, 2015

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The book club meeting for March 2nd will feature the 1960 Hugo Award winning science fiction novel A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr. This book predicts the future of a dusty patch of Utah desert as told by generations of Catholic monks. Many versions of this book are available - short story, radio play, audio book, and Kindle.  Andrea Zittel has graciously offered her cozy blast-proof concrete bunker in Joshua Tree as our meeting place. Driving east on Highway 62, just outside of town, turn right (south) on the dirt road in front of the Bail Bonds office (Neptune Street), then follow my nifty white Book Club signs to guide you in. Plenty of parking is available if you continue past the house to the studio on the upper level. Can't wait to see you at the book club!

Monday, March 2, 2015, 7PM
A-Z West
Joshua Tree, CA (see driving directions above)

This is the sixth meeting of Kip's Desert Book Club.  Learn more about this monthly gathering.

... (learn more)
Gem and Mineral Expo - Auction of Artist's Rocks
Email us your bid by 5PM today!

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Bid on an artist's rock!  HDTS is holding a silent auction of artist-painted and altered rocks, being held in the spirit of artists Scott and Tyson Reeder’s project General Store Rocks (originally featured in Amy and Wendy Yao’s Art Swap Meet at the HDTS 2004 event). A selection of artists, including many HDTS artists and collaborators, have contributed original “painted rocks” to be auctioned in support of High Desert Test Sites. Email your bid to info@highdeserttestsites.com by 5pm PST today, or bid in person today from 12-5pm at Riverside Studios in LA - part of the HDTS Gem & Mineral Expo fundraising event (we still have plenty of great deals on gems & minerals, plus Sunday mimosas!)

View artist rocks up for auction:

... (learn more)
Gem and Mineral Expo and Pancake Breakfast
a fundraiser supporting high desert test sites
february 14-15, 2015

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High Desert Test Sites is pleased to announce the HDTS Gem and Mineral Expo and Pancake Breakfast, a fundraising event in Los Angeles to support the Joshua Tree-based nonprofit organization that supports artists and their endeavors to make work that engages directly with a community, culture, or landscape. The three part event will feature a Gem and Mineral Sale, a painted rock auction, and a Saturday pancake breakfast.
 

February 14, 2015, 10AM - 5PM
February 15, 2015, 12PM - 5PM
Riverside Studios
3352 San Fernando Road, Los Angeles, CA 90065
(across from LA Zine Fest)
 

Pancake Breakfast:  On Saturday February 14th, HDTS will host a pancake breakfast. $7 buys you a breakfast with your choice of coffee or juice. $10 gets you breakfast and a mimosa. (Beverages also available throughout the event.)

Gem and Mineral Sale:  Inspired by the gem and mineral mecca of Quartzsite, Arizona, HDTS will hold its own gem and mineral sale throughout the weekend that will feature a vast array of stones and crystals for sale at every price range, from $1 to $100.

Silent Auction:  The two-day event will showcase a silent auction of artist-painted rocks, being held in the spirit of artists Scott and Tyson Reeder’s project General Store Rocks (originally featured in Amy and Wendy Yao’s Art Swap Meet at the HDTS 2004 event).  

A selection of artists, including many HDTS artists and collaborators, have contributed original “painted rocks” to be auctioned in support of High Desert Test Sites. Email your bid to info@highdeserttestsites.com, or bid in person Saturday and Sunday! View artist rocks up for auction here.

Participating artists include:

Adrienne Adar
Mark Allen
Lisa Anne Auerbach
Katie Bachler
Tanya Brodsky
Jedediah Caesar
Akina Cox
N. Dash
Bob Dornberger
Shari Elf 
Alyse Emdur
Claire L. Evans
Cayetano Ferrer
Katie Grinnan
Emilie Halpern
Steve Halterman
Katie Herzog
Matt Merkel Hess
Bettina Hubby
Daniel Ingroff
Patrick Jackson
Emily Joyce
Alice Könitz
Molly Larkey
Candice Lin
Jay Lizo
JPW3
Karen Lofgren
Shana Lutker
Aram Moshayedi
Alison O'Daniel
Michael Parker
Corrina Peipon
Paul Pescador
Sarah Rara
Fay Ray
Tyson Reeder
Ry Rocklen
RO/LU
Samantha Roth
Kathleen Ryan
Lindsay August-Salazar
Pascual Sisto
LeRoy Stevens
Glen Steigelman
Julie Tolentino
Richard Turner
Amy Yao
Amanda Yates Garcia
Vanesa Zendejas

View event updates on Facebook
View Instagram to preview some of the artist rocks that will be up for auction, and gems & minerals that will be for sale!

Special thanks to Riverside Studios, Matthew Dannevik, Bob Dornberger, Mark X Farina, Megan Plunkett, Catharine Stebbins, Gabie Strong, Tatiana Vahan, and all of the amazing artists who donated rocks! 

... (learn more)
Kip's Desert Book Club
The Valkyries - Paulo Coelho
february 2, 2015

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The next meeting of Kip's Desert Book Club will be February 2, 2015, and we'll be discussing Paulo Coelho's The Valkyries.

I was really impressed with The Valkyries by Paulo Coelho, February's book club selection, suggested by Laurence Geledan.  About as far opposite from Deathwatch (last month's book) as you are likely to find, it's about Paulo's spiritual quest through the Mojave desert searching for his personal guardian angel. What's even better is that we will be discussing the book in a very special place, Mother House, a space  Laurence and John Alexis have dedicated exclusively to spiritual practice.

To find Mother House from downtown Joshua Tree, drive north on Sunburst from Hwy 62, turn right on Golden, turn left on Border, keep an eye out for Pole and Del Oro roads, then turn left on Winters (sign on the left) and drive 1 1/4 mile on dirt road to Shangri La and turn left. Mother House will be on your right in less than a quarter mile - look for the big white book club sign to guide you to the correct driveway.

Monday, February 2, 2015, 7PM
Mother House 
Joshua Tree, CA (see driving directions above)

This is the fifth meeting of Kip's Desert Book Club.  Learn more about this monthly gathering.

PS - We're going to give everyone the heads up on the Book Club selection for March a little early due to the deep nature of the book. We will be reading A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr. It can be found on Amazon, used, Kindle, and as a radio-play for free on the net, which I will definitely check out.  This is a Hugo award winning Science Fiction work set in the Utah desert over many centuries and might need a bit of time to digest before we can discuss it fully.  

... (learn more)
Kip's Desert Book Club
Deathwatch - Robb White
january 5, 2015

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January 5th's Book Club meeting will feature Deathwatch by Robb White. (It will also be a party to celebrate Kip's birthday the next day!)

This is a page turning thriller that reads super quickly, half Robinson Crusoe, half CSI.  Make certain you have a couple hours, because you won't be able to put it down. This is technically a young adult novel, so feel free to introduce your kids to desert literature. I  was exposed to this work in 7th grade, and it only warped me a tiny bit. 

We will be meeting at Kip's house at 63452 Winters Road in North Joshua Tree.  From downtown Joshua Tree, turn north on Sunburst, right on Golden, left on Border, then keep your eyes out for Pole and Del Oro signs, and turn right on Winters, with the street sign on the left hand side of the road and the large Copper Mountain Mesa sign on your right. Drive one mile and it will be on the left with the reflective orange triangle on a post and the Book Club sign. We can't wait to share cake and ice cream with all our Book Club friends!

Monday, January 5, 2015, 7PM
Kip's House
63452 Winters Road
Joshua Tree, CA

This is the fourth meeting of Kip's Desert Book Club.  Learn more about this monthly gathering.

PS - We're going to give everyone the heads up on the Book Club selection for March a little early due to the deep nature of the book. We will be reading A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr. It can be found on Amazon, used, Kindle, and as a radio-play for free on the net, which I will definitely check out.  This is a Hugo award winning Science Fiction work set in the Utah desert over many centuries and might need a bit of time to digest before we can discuss it fully.  

... (learn more)
full calendar of events
see what's on the horizon at hdts
HDTS HQ at Sky Village Swap Meet in Yucca Valley
saturdays 8-2, sundays 8-12
february 21-22 opening weekend extravaganza! february 21: hunter and the wick'd, kristina campbell; february 22: chiara giovando, sarah harris, cody montgomery, nora rolf
Kip's Desert Book Club
a canticle for leibowitz - walter m. miller, jr.
march 2, 2015
Visit A-Z West
reserve your spot & support hdts!
next tour: march 21, 2015
Gradually/We Became Aware/Of a Hum in the Room
Halsey Rodman
now on view
2014 Limited Edition Postcard Series
now available!
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make a tax-deductible donation
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