Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden

On our way home from the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, we stopped at The Galen and Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden in Palm Desert, about 27 miles south of Palm Springs. It is located right off the busy 111, but is an oasis of beauty and tranquility. The Palm Springs Art Museum (called The Galen) opened in March of 2012, and is a LEED-certified, Silver rated building. The Galen focuses on art exhibitions that use photography, painting, new media, and sculpture. The exhibits rotate every three months – we saw an interesting one called: PERSONALITIES: FANTASY AND IDENTITY IN PHOTOGRAPHY AND NEW MEDIA

The Galen and Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden in Palm Desert, California

 

Palms and succulents in the garden

Surrounding The Galen is the four-acre sculpture garden, which features water falls, paths, stone benches, rock walls, a gazebo, and native plants. The garden seems deceptively small, until you turn a corner, and find yourself in a new “garden room” that features beautiful plants and an interesting sculpture. When we visited, the Palo Verde trees, bougainvillea, and fire cracker plants were full of bright yellow, magenta, and red blooms.


Palms and Palo Verde trees in bloom
 

Bright red "firecracker" flowers

We lingered in the garden taking in the art and beautiful plants. After two days hiking in the desert, we were content to lounge on the benches, listening to bird song and tumbling water, and watching the plants, lizards, birds. We even saw a road runner.

Taking a break to enjoy the garden

The fountains mask the traffic noise from the street, and the blue glass river provides both path and representation of water.

The waterfall masks the street sounds before transitioning to a dry stream bed

The path represents a stream, with blue glass representing water, and river rocks the stream bed (photo by Al and Bina Harris)

Another fountain in the garden

After our leisurely visit, we headed up to Palm Springs for dinner on the patio at Maracas Cantina, and conversation about fascinating and beautiful art!