kip's desert book club
Death Valley Scotty by mabel
february 4th at mother house



I was at the Mojave River Museum in Barstow a few years ago (a mecca for desert books!) and picked up a copy of Death Valley Scotty by Mabel. This thin volume is filled with amazing first hand accounts of adventure as told by the incredibly refined Bessie M. Johnson, (aka Mabel) in 1932. There are many books written about Death Valley Scotty, we should read them all, but none can be as personal as this one. 

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kip's desert book club
the desert by brandon shimoda
january 7th at BOXO house



It's always exciting to hear of a new title to add to the long list of desert literature. Ben Estes from The Song Cave recently sent me a copy of The Desert by Brandon Shimoda, hot off the press! This is a book of poems and prose featuring the unique desert perspective of a WW2 Japanese internment camp resident. I realize that poetry is a challenge for a lot of us. This book fortunately has a section of present day journal entries that stands on its own, so it has something for everyone to discuss on January 7th, 2019 at Bernard Liebov's BOXO house. 

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kip's desert book club
rancho costa nada by phil garlington
december 3rd at kip's house in north joshua tree

Who among us has not dreamed of building a structure in the desert made of sandbags and plywood scraps? When I got my copy of Rancho Costa Nada by Phil Garlington, I knew that it was going to be a big hit with the Book Club. Much more than a how-to for building an affordable shelter in a harsh environment, this book slices through a complete section of desert culture. It is available new, used, digital and free from the author's website.
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The Ski Club
Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the High Desert
October 27-28, 2018



High Desert Test Sites is pleased to present an event by The Ski Club, a contemporary art space in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This event—curated by Mark Klassen, director of The Ski Club, and Jesse McLean of Microlights Cinema—will present works by nineteen Midwest-based artists between three different sites in Wonder Valley, California. The exhibition will be on view October 27–28 with a poetry reading and film screening slated for October 27 at the Palms Restaurant.

Artists include: Matt Cook, Laura Davis, Richard Galling, Alex Herzog, Thaddeus Kellstadt, Mark Klassen, Chris Larson, John Riepenhoff, Edra Soto, Oli Watt and Allison Yasukawa. Jesse McLean of Microlights Cinema will screen works by: Zachary Epcar, Sky Hopinka, Nazli Dinçel, Alee Peoples + Mike Stoltz, Beny Wagner and Michael Robinson. 

Driving map available here

Sited artworks:
Saturday, October 27th, 11:00 am–5:00 pm
Ironage Rd. and HubbyCo Far East
Sunday, October 28th, 11:00 am–2:00 pm
Ironage Rd. and HubbyCo Far East

Screening: 
Saturday, October 27th, 8:00 pm
The Palms Restaurant

Printed driving Maps, directions, event information, and ephemera will be available Saturday, October 27 at the HDTS HQ at Sky Village Market Place, 7028 Theater Road, Yucca Valley, CA 92284, from 9:00 am–1:00pm.

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kip's desert book club
the devil's highway by luis alberto urrea
november 5, 2018 in joshua tree



When I recently learned about The Devil's Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea I knew we had to get this serious desert book in front of our readers. This is a true tale of desert tragedy and survival when 26 men crossed the border from Mexico to Arizona through some of the toughest conditions one can imagine in May of 2001. We will be gathering at 7:00 pm, November 5th in Friendship Hall at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center. This is a new location for us and I can't wait to try it out!

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HDTS HQ at Sky Village Swap Meet
come visit us on Saturdays from 9am-1pm
look for us by the crystal cave every weekend
Kip's Desert Book Club
february: death valley scotty by mabel
plant meditation and low-cost herb clinics
a project with herbalist rachel burgos
Visit A-Z West
next tour: February 10, 2019
reserve your spot & support hdts!
Scout book #3
now available through the online store
2018 HDTS postcard series by Sarah Lyon now available
order them on the online store
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