Borrego Sun - Since 1949

Celebrate art, community and our shared environment.

All are invited to the 2022 Candlewood Arts Festival in beautiful Borrego Springs from March 5 and 6. Experience unique art happenings, engage with one another, and discover breathtaking scenery in the western reaches of the Sonoran Desert.

The Candlewood Arts Festival is sponsored by The Under the Sun Foundation, the stewards of the landmark metal Sky Art sculptures of Galleta Meadows.

The Under the Sun Foundation is inspired by the work of Dennis Avery, the late landowner of Galleta Meadows in Borrego Springs, and his passion for bringing art to the local community and its visitors. Mr. Avery had 130 large scale, free-standing, metal sculptures produced by artist Ricardo Breceda, and referred to them as Sky Art. Spread over 1,500+ acres of undeveloped desert land, these larger than life creations welcome the public to discover and enjoy art outdoors, surrounded by the rich and diverse desert environs of Borrego Springs.

The Under the Sun Foundation seeks to breathe new life and meaning into the existing sculptures. The Candlewood Arts Festival marks the Foundation's first new programming endeavor and will enjoy its inaugural year in 2019.

"We at the Under the Sun Foundation are excited to see where our evolution might take us. We use Dennis Avery's work and Borrego Springs as a point of inspiration, and expect to add new geographies, artistic endeavors, and ways to engage with our environment and one another over the coming years."

During the Arts Festival, experience newly commissioned site-specific works of art – sculpture, installation, performance, and photography – and family-friendly art-making workshops in this unique community surrounded by the Anza Borrego Desert. Access to all events is free. The Festival runs until March 27.

Opening weekend starts on March 5 at 9 a.m. with self-guided tours. At Christmas Circle, attendees will find a map of all the works created for the festival, including sculpture, performance, and a gallery exhibition located throughout the desert community of Borrego Springs.

At 1:30 p.m. will begin an artists' talk, followed by a performance by Amitis Motevalli.

The public is then invited to the opening reception at the Candlewood Arts Festival Gallery at The Mall, which features an exhibition of newly created work by artists from Borrego Springs High School, produced with the guidance of artist and educator Jake Freilich this winter.

For full details about the Candlewood Arts Festival opening weekend, visit: https://candlewoodartsfestival.org/events/