Painting Borrego: Geoff Allen Brings The Palms Pool to Life

Join the artist ARhAyas PSonn AllureA for ARTTALK on Saturday, November 21 at 3pm at The Gallery at The Palms to converse about his assemblage collages relating to the erasure of Goddess wisdom and its metamorphosis to time present. Refreshments will be served for your enjoyment. The Gallery at The Palms is located at 2220 Hoberg Road, Borrego Springs, Ca. 92004

By: Brice Weaver www.briceweaverphotography What happens when a photograph becomes your only memory of something you experienced? I recently came across an Instagram video of a woman looking through photographs with her husband, who had apparently suffered a brain injury affecting his memory. The photographs captured their first dance together. As they looked through them, she gently asked whether he remembered certain moments. I found myself thinking about that video long after watching it. For her, those photographs were connected to experiences she could still remember. For him, they offered a visual record of moments he could no longer recall. We take photographs assuming we’ll remember the moments surrounding them. But what happens when we don’t? What happens when a photograph becomes our only connection to an experience, a person, or a particular time in our lives? And what happens when that photograph has been altered so extensively that it no longer represents what actually occurred? We’re living in a time when artificial intelligence can generate convincing images of events that never happened. Digital editing allows us to remove people, replace backgrounds, alter expressions, and reconstruct scenes until they bear little resemblance to the original moment. Much of the debate surrounding AI-generated imagery focuses on creativity, copyright, and whether these images should even be considered photography. But I think there’s another question we aren’t discussing nearly enough. What happens when the photographs we create today become the memories someone depends on tomorrow? Now Imagine looking through your own photographs decades later, unable to distinguish which details were genuine and which had been added, removed, or generated. Human memory is already imperfect. We forget, reconstruct, and sometimes unintentionally change our recollections. Photographs have traditionally provided an external reference, even if that reference was never entirely objective. If we begin treating every photograph as something to be perfected rather than preserved, what happens to that relationship? That short video brought the issue into a much more human perspective for me. The couple wasn’t discussing photography, artificial intelligence, or photographic ethics. They were simply looking at pictures, trying to reconnect with moments from their lives. You don’t need photographs to show a better version of your life. You need them to show the life you actually lived. We spend so much time asking how to make photographs look better. Perhaps we should spend more time asking what we need them to remember. As AI and digital manipulation become increasingly sophisticated, where do you draw the line between improving a photograph and changing the history it represents? 

Yellow Woman Ranch's Fall Wellness Faire invites visitors to explore holistic practices, discover natural products, and enjoy a day of connection in the desert. Thanksgiving is a time for gathering, gratitude, and, quite often, overindulgence. On Saturday, November 28, Yellow Woman Ranch in Borrego Springs invites visitors to spend the day nourishing themselves in a different way, exploring an eclectic mix of holistic practices, natural products, and experiences designed to promote well-being. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Fall Wellness Faire will bring together holistic practitioners, wellness enthusiasts, and natural product vendors for a day of discovery, connection, and feeling good. Visitors can explore a variety of offerings, including acupuncture and cupping, Reiki, vibrational sound healing, Zero Balance, Bio-Energetic Scanning, mini facials, and Somatic Movement. The day will also feature sound baths, Shamanic Journeying, tarot readings, and traditional Chinese mind-body practices. Beyond the individual practices and experiences, guests can browse crystals, herbal products, and other natural offerings, enjoy wholesome foods, meet practitioners, and discover approaches to wellness they may not have encountered before. “I started these Wellness Faires to create awareness about the different ways we can heal and feel good when we get in touch with our bodies and our minds,” says Rossy Sanchez, creator of Yellow Woman Ranch. “I so enjoy seeing the happy faces as people leave the event.” Set against the dramatic beauty of the Anza-Borrego Desert, Yellow Woman Ranch offers an inviting setting where visitors can explore at their own pace, connect with others, and perhaps discover something new about themselves. The Fall Wellness Faire takes place Saturday, November 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Yellow Woman Ranch, 302 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs, California. Admission is $20. Private sessions are available at additional cost, with pricing varying by practitioner. For more information and to explore the day's offerings, visit www.yellowwomanranch.com/events.

A few raindrops couldn’t keep the costumes home on Halloween night in Borrego Springs.

Six artists come together for a collective exhibition Check out the most recent review by Art Critic, Sally Walsh Gary Henderson Interiors Studio 628 will celebrate its season opening with Mixed Tempos, a collective exhibition featuring Kevin Goddess, Victoria Johnson, Kippi Leonard, Robert Landry, Wil Gardner and Marcy Gregory. Mixed Tempos at Studio 628 & Galeria el Patio 622 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs CA. Show goes through November, Gallery Hours Friday-Sunday 1:00-4:00 PM. Bringing six artists together in one exhibition, Mixed Tempos offers visitors an opportunity to explore their work and welcome the return of the local gallery season. The evening will also include a sneak preview of Galeria el Patio, adding another reason to stop by and see what’s ahead. Community members and visitors are invited to join the celebration, enjoy the exhibition and spend an evening connecting with Borrego Springs’ arts community.

From desert hikes and stargazing to educational lectures and guided tours, the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association (ABDNHA) has posted its upcoming activities for the 2026–2027 season. The schedule offers opportunities for residents and visitors to explore the desert, learn about local history, observe wildlife and discover the natural wonders of Anza-Borrego. Programs include guided hikes, bird walks, four-wheel-drive excursions, astronomy presentations, nature journaling, cycling and educational lectures. Many outdoor activities are free, although advance registration is often required. November Highlights Nov. 2: Fern Canyon and Vandeventer Loop hike Nov. 6: Stargazing Borrego's Dark Sky Nov. 7: Deep Space Photography with Michael Poirier Nov. 8: Rainbow Wash & Beyond 4WD Tour Nov. 14–15: Annual Attic & Book Sale Nov. 21: Historic Borrego Walkabout Nov. 24: Full Moon Walk at South Palm Wash Nov. 27: The Fascinating Story of Borrego's Sky Art, with Diana Lindsay Nov. 28: Guided driving tour of Borrego's famous sculptures Looking Ahead December brings additional hikes, birding excursions, botany programs and lectures. The annual Desert Home & Garden Tour is scheduled for March 13, 2027, while a Mongolia tour is listed for June. Activities vary in difficulty, and some have participant limits or special vehicle requirements. Several programs offer discounted admission for ABDNHA members and volunteers. Explore the full schedule and register: ABDNHA Activities For reservations or additional information, contact the Borrego Desert Nature Center at 760-767-3098, or visit 652 Palm Canyon Drive in Borrego Springs.

OLAX de Borrego invites the community to experience colorful altars, traditional Mexican art, and a special Family Day celebration on Sunday, November 1. All activities are free and open to all ages. The Community Resource Center (CRC) in Borrego Springs is filling with color, flowers and tradition as OLAX de Borrego prepares for its Día de los Muertos celebration. Volunteers have been busy painting large decorative pieces, creating colorful paper flowers and assembling traditional altars to honor loved ones who have passed away. The preparations are part of OLAX de Borrego's Día de los Muertos series, bringing community members together to share Mexican cultural traditions through art, remembrance and celebration. A Weekend of Remembrance and Celebration The public is invited to visit the Día de los Muertos Altar Expo on Saturday, October 31, and Sunday, November 1, beginning at 9 a.m. The altars, known as ofrendas, are an important part of Día de los Muertos. They traditionally feature photographs, flowers and meaningful objects that honor and remember family members and friends who have died. The decorations include colorful handmade flowers, papel picado and other artwork created during community workshops and preparations. Sunday: Family Day, Catrina Contest and Folklórico The celebration continues Sunday, November 1, at 3 p.m. with Family Day, a Catrina Contest and a presentation by Las Flores del Desierto Ballet Folklórico. The afternoon offers an opportunity for families, neighbors and visitors to experience the traditions of Día de los Muertos together. The Catrina Contest celebrates one of the holiday's most recognizable figures, while the folklórico presentation brings traditional Mexican dance into the celebration. Everyone Is Welcome OLAX de Borrego's celebration is free and open to all ages. Whether attending to honor a loved one, learn about Mexican traditions or enjoy the community festivities, everyone is invited. Event Details Saturday, October 31: Altar Setup beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday, November 1: Altar Expo, beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday, November 1, at 3 p.m.: Family Day, Catrina Contest and Las Flores del Desierto presentation Location: Community Resource Center (CRC), The Mall, Borrego Springs Admission: Free, all ages welcome For more information, contact info@olaxdeborrego.org . Photos: Community members prepare colorful decorations and handmade artwork for OLAX de Borrego's Día de los Muertos celebration at the Community Resource Center.