Whimsical Art in a World of Uncertainties

Palm Desert assemblage artist Lauretta Lowell, moved to Palm Desert in 2004. In 2008 she started her business, Whimsical Curiosities, showcasing her whimsical creations. Using vintage found items, her assemblage art takes the form of sculptures, shrines, jewelry and furniture. All her work is designed with the intention of capturing your curiosity, to make you smile and make you feel you areexperiencing something you have never seen before.

This past summer she showcased her work in three highly critiqued shows – "The Whimsical Curiosities of Lauretta Lowell" in Santa Barbara's AFS Gallery; "Making Mischief: Humor in Art" a show in the Irvine Fine Arts Center, and "One Night Stand" at Santa Barbara's Brooks Institute Gallery 27, a show she shared with artists Yoko Ono, Jeff Bridges, Jesse Alexander, Ann Hamilton, John Nava and Ann Diener.  Lauretta sells her work in local and coastal fine arts festivals as well as in galleries in Fallbrook, Irvine, Santa Barbara, Arizona, Utah, Hawaii, Michigan and Seattle.

I should probably admit now that the reason this piece is being written is because I was so moved by Ms. Lowell's works. Many are LOL funny and so unique that well, you just have to see them to believe me. Lauretta's titles nicely play with her art. For example, her piece "Kilroy Was Here", is a poor propeller-headed sod given the body of a retro-timer that ticks down minutes in ironic subheads that read, "Plan to be spontaneous tomorrow", "A can of worms won't open itself," and "I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize," among others. You can't help but smile after seeing one of Lauretta's pieces. Her works are whimsical, mysterious, surreal, and always magical.

Lauretta can be found this season at La Quinta's monthly Art Under The Umbrella's art festivals and in December with her Assemblage Art Exhibit in the Rancho Mirage Public Library. For a list of fine art festivals and galleries along the coast where you can find her work, visit her website at www.whimsicalcuriosities.com.

You owe it to yourself to go see one of this up-and-coming, eclectic, assemblage artist's shows. She will give you your smile for the day. Lauretta is able to channel her creativity in new ways delivering her waste-not/want-not philosophy in an imperiled world, and still be able to make us laugh. Ms. Lowell's ecological art creations are definitely smile-friendly.