IAAA History

Death Valley Workshop 2023

Attendees

• Ken Davy

• Marilynn Flynn
• Daniel Holmes?
• Lois Rosson
• Jon Ramer
• Danielle Rose
• Pat Rawlings
• Don Davis
• Michael Carroll
• Mark Pestana
• Joel Hagen
• Michael d'Albertis
• Rick Sternbach
• Michelle Rouch
• Jim Scotti
• Walter Myers

Being a Faithful Accounting by one Danielle Rose, Artist and Sometimes Geologist, having been duly appointed to compose this narrative, I humbly attempt to relay the events that occurred during this, the fourth IAAA Expedition to that most extraterrestrial of harsh environs, Death Valley, California. Thirty-odd intrepid explorers gathered on Tuesday the 21st of February, in the year 2023, at the Longstreet Inn and Casino, located just over the border in the silver state of Nevada. Our accommodations were ideally suited, being but a short drive from the entrance to that desolate Valley.

(But hark! I hear your protests—Danielle, you have stirred entirely too much Jules Verne into your coffee! Gentle reader, I apologize. I continue now in a more contemporary tone.)

Our adventuresome band met in the evening, greeted by the cheerful faces of our hosts, Marilynn Flynn, Simon Kregar, and Michelle Rouch. A large conference room was outfitted for our use, both as art studio and meeting hall. We each received a welcome goodie bag, including a jaunty matching expedition shirt! (We were asked not to wear said items until Thursday, to facilitate a smart-looking group photo.) Danielle Rose (that’s me!) and her husband Nate Baker contributed stickers of the workshop logo, printed in two sizes, as a gift to for all attendees.

We convened in the morning to discuss the itinerary and logistics. As “official-ish geologist” for the expedition, I gave highlights of the day’s stops, including that Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes includes a somewhat-rare star dune, and that Mosaic Canyon is, geologically-speaking, quite strange. Dan Durda was quick to add that both spots were home to various pick-up shots from Star Wars Episode IV, and he was determined to document them all, with Jon Ramer assisting in geolocation.

Most of the group detoured to the Furnace Creek visitors center (all at once, exactly as we were asked not to—in our collective defense, this was to pay entrance fees and obtain our vehicle park passes.) Our first destination was Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes, and a few of us wet-media folks (Ken Davy, Pat Rawlings and myself ) set up easels in the designated painting area (a very uninspiring strip adjacent to the parking lot.) It was an interesting experience for me, having never painted on an easel, on a larger scale, trying to capture the view with constantly changing light, clouds and shadows. Dry media sketchers ventured out onto the dunes for better views. Dan and Jon marched out to the dunes to photograph as many ANH locations as possible.

After breaking at Stovepipe Wells, with a healthy lunch provided by our hosts and The Mothership (official expedition RV), we moved on to Mosaic Canyon, a marble slot canyon with incredible flood-sculpted twists and turns. Dan and Jon were at the front of the pack, pointing out additional film spots to anyone curious. It was well worth hiking through, and several members found spots to post up and sketch. Kara Szathmáry was particularly photogenic, sketching halfway up a cliff. That night, members convened in the conference room for member presentations, including a lovely talk by Don Davis and Rick Sternbach on their work with Carl Sagan and the COSMOS team.

Day two of our expedition started with a group photo at the Amargosa Opera House, the home base for the first IAAA trip to Death Valley in 1983. The day was canyon-filled! We spent the morning at Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch, where some stopped to sketch and capture the lower reaches, while others hiked to the view the Red Cathedral at the top. Lunch was provided at Furnace Creek by the intrepid Mothership, before heading to Desolation Canyon for the afternoon.

We met up with the Mother Ship at Zabriskie Point in the evening, where strong winds and cloud-strewn skies canceled the star party, but not the barbecue. The dropping temperatures led to more and more artists taking shelter in the RV (I believe we had nearly 20 people crammed inside at one point!) Nate and I brought a special treat: tequila, mixer, and my late father’s pull-start gas-powered blender (aka the chainsaw margarita machine.) Nate blended, I poured, and Kara served rounds of drinks, and by the time we ran out of mix, despite the chilling winds, we had a crowd of cheering onlookers! Simon, Marilynn and Michelle made burgers in the tiny RV kitchen, and everyone had a marvelous time.

With bad weather looming, our hosts made the decision to run straight to Ubehebe Crater and try to beat the rain. We were treated with a rare sight: Ubehebe dusted with snow! Photos required facing the high winds and being blasted by ice crystals, so no plein air or hiking was attempted (that I know of.) Descending from the heights of Ubehebe to Badwater Basin, where temperatures were much more comfortable, the group explored the salt flats, the Artists Drive and Artists Palette, and the famous Mars Hill, before heading back (via 20 Mule Team Canyon).

Death Valley, along with most of California and Nevada, was hit by an atmospheric river, resulting in amazingly bad weather. As such, our hosts declared it a “free day”. Many attendees opted to work on art in the conference room at Longstreet, in a delightful group studio atmosphere. Some ventured back to the Furnace Creek Visitors Center and shops, or to the nearby Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, home of multiple crystal blue warm springs, and the endangered desert pupfish. At the end of the afternoon, an art show and contest commenced, both of artwork brought to the workshop, and artwork created during the workshop. After a lengthy debate amongst the Fellows judging, Mark Pestana won both categories. The evening was open for further presentations, including a fascinating deep dive into the history of space stations by Mark Pestana.

Sad as we were to depart, the group went their separate ways. For Nate and I, the atmospheric river made for an interesting journey back to Oregon, as our entire route through Nevada and California was covered in snow. (I hope those headed back to LA or Las Vegas had an easier journey than we did!)

This was my first IAAA workshop (and artist workshop of any kind), so it was a very special week for me, and a joy to return to Death Valley after 24 years. It was my husband’s first time visiting, and he was as captivated by the rugged geology and dramatic vistas as I was in 1999. For those newer members, like me, I can’t recommend attending a workshop enough. The natural inspiration was great, but meeting so many fellow artists was a pleasure I won’t soon forget!

Mosaic Canyon - Aldo Spadoni - 2023

Golden Outcrop - Michael Carroll 2023

Ubehebe Crater - Michael Carroll 2023

Mosaic Canyon - Kara Szathmary 2023

Golden Canyon - Kara Szathmary 2023