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Joe Enos, Iris Smotrich, Michael Benthall at the Big Hair Ball. Photo by Pat Krause
PERMIT NO 00005
Friday, November 25, 2016 Vol. 9 No. 95
Big Hair Ball Helene Galen, Jamie Kabler, JoAnn Horwitz, Alan Horwitz. Photo by Pat Krause By Pam Price The one and only Big Hair Ball staged at the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert; The Galen and Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden hosted it’s fifth annual Meet The Galen membership drive and “party of the year” on Friday, November 18th with Helene Galen and Jamie Kabler personally greeting each guest as they arrived, even if they couldn’t recognize them. That
was demonstrated when Alan and JoAnn Horwitz arrived, a perfect example of what happens when guests followed the theme’s directives, by wearing their “biggest, most outrageous hair”! Alan’s curly, purple-tinted luminous wig did everything but glow in the dark. Chuckles reverberated throughout the event, which began at 6pm. Continuing with the ingenious hair-raising headdress wrapped around
Joe Enos and Michael Benthall. Their balloons gone wild “head” dress was inspired by the Chihuly glass collection at the Palm Springs Art Museum which was gifted by Donna Macmillan. And speaking of Donna, her arrival in a buoyant pink creation was a “shocking pink” moment adding fashion flash that was definitely noticed as guests arrived. Bringing “Big Hair” to be higher than normal heights
was Madeleine Haas and Bevy McGill wearing “jet blue” Pan Am inspired flight attendant uniforms accentuated by their blonde sky high updo. In the midst of these outrageously ingenious ‘Big Hair’ happenings, Helene Galen graciously welcomed museum members past, present and future with her warm words saying this was a ‘happy event’ bringing on even more smiles. The event, sponsored by
Saks Fifh Avenue, included cocktails and complimentary cocktails (thank you Tito’s Vodka) and music by DJ Alf Alpha, modeling courtesy of Presage. “The Big Hair Ball theme was so well received last year we just had to do it again,” said Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Springs director Arlene Anick. Pam Price serves on the Cathedral City Public Art Commission.
By Kitty Alvarado, Video Journalist PALM SPRINGS, Ca. -Kenny Irwin says he’s been working on this art installation since he was 12-years-old, “A labor of love I put in 3-4000 hours of my own effort into it, I create all the art by myself.” During the holidays it’s known as Robolights. Art combined with close to 9 million lights have made this holiday lights display a desert tradition for the past 30 years. “It’s a unique visionary art experience combined with lights during the holiday period,” says Irwin. Irwin says being Muslim doesn’t contradict with the Christmas theme rather it’s a universal message meant
to inspire, “In Islam it’s called noor and the way I see it you know instead of people cursing the darkness, light it up one light at a time ... It’s an all inclusive celebration of humanity in hopes you know that people come together.” And while he plans to open Robolights to the public the day before Thanksgiving. The city of Palm Springs says Irwin has to make a few changes before they allow people onto the property. The issue: large inflatable characters on the roof. “We have a public safety concern that if there’s a high wind those things will come loose and potentially injure or even kill someone that would be in the way of those
inflatables,” says City of Palm Springs Assistant City Manager, Marcus Fuller. Irwin says that’s a non issue, “If there’s a big wind
storm i simply deflate the Santa and the Godzilla holding the giant candy cane,” adding Robolights will go on as planned for the community
he loves, “I want to deliver the most unique wonderful experience they could ever treasure you know in their lifetimes.” Source KMIR
Robolights On?