Exploring Desert X: "The Act of Being Together" by José Dávila

Thalia Hayden and Digi Dave continue the NBC Palm Springs tour of Desert X with exhbit 4, an installation by the talented artist José Dávila. Located in the vast open space of Desert Hot Springs, the exhibit sits behind towering windmills, creating a striking contrast between art and nature.

The exhibit features strategically placed marble blocks, each brought from Mexico and transported across the border to their new home in the Coachella Valley. The artist describes this migration not only as a physical journey but as a metaphorical one, crossing borders between the seen and the unseen.

The piece explores themes of strength, support, and community coming together. While the idea of crossing borders may seem political, the focus of this artwork is on unity and balance in a time when both are needed most.

The artist, José Dávila, challenges us to think of this exhibit as not just a collection of marble blocks but as a symbol of excavation—a call to dig deeper into our communities and find what truly binds us. There is strength in this work, but it also carries a sense of playfulness. The image of a toddler sitting among building blocks captures this perfectly: the joy and simplicity of coming together to create something meaningful. This work is a powerful representation of community and resilience, and a reminder that art can be both playful and profound. I’m giving Stay tuned for our next stop on our Desert X tour.