- info@aha-projects.org
dESERTRADE
DESERTRADE is a space to commune, create + educate.
Our goal is to support the development of healthier humans within a dignified culture through residencies, workshops, lectures, gatherings, performances, meals and healing. We believe that through support, communion, and education, we can create a more inclusive and conscious world.
Artists, neighbors, students, intellectuals, and children alike are welcome to join us in cultivating friendships, sharing dreams and setting them free.
DESERTRADE sits on a 12-acre property just northeast of Indian Cove, 29 Palms, CA. The property was owned for decades by Verle and Gene Ludwig: Verle, a sergeant in the Marines and Gene enamored with Chinese food and culture. Gene taught cooking classes in her humble outdoor kitchen and at nearby Copper Mountain College in Joshua Tree. Verle wrote fiction in his private bungalow “The Dirty Shame.” The pool, remnants of a badminton court, and wine cellar proved its inhabitants enjoyed life. DESERTRADE will continue this legacy of exercising play, education, celebration and communication.
DESERTRADE is currently operating out of a functional, renovated 2200 sq ft one bedroom home (rebuilt and redesigned by Artistic Director Ryan Heffington), acting as an artist residence and versatile presentation space for dance, exhibitions, readings and more. We’re hopeful that by 2026, we will have the four existing bungalows on the 12-acre property functioning again with the capacity of hosting up to 5 artists as a cross section of disciplines, creating a space to incubate and develop their ideas together. This will also further opportunities to offer workshops for the community by artists. To keep labor costs at a minimum and engage the community, we will offer the community free education workshops led by professionals in efforts to skill-share.
Our goal in providing space for the artistic community is primarily to house and support artists in residence and develop an exchange program and dance season that will include workshops and presentations, enriching an already vibrant art culture in the hi-desert. Our programming will organically expand and evolve annually.
Your support will help DESERTRADE continue to house and support artists in residence, cultivating dialogue and cultural exchange, develop a seasonal program of workshops and presentations, complete the refurbishment of our four artist bungalows, and will aid general day-to-day operating costs. Ultimately, we dream of establishing a free summer program for local youth, providing accessible arts education, and developing regular free and subsidized community workshops and presentations with more regularity, expanding access to creative learning opportunities, including but not limited to basic building skills, filming dance, and culinary courses; and more.
With the support of city grants and community support, some highlights of our programming in the last year include:
- Hosting nearly ten individuals and teams of artists in residence in the space.
- Mixers, allowing community members and tourists alike the opportunity to mingle and share creative ideas.
- Professionally choreographed dance performances from DESERTRADE residents and film features
- An evening of dance films as well as a free Dance + Film workshop for Teens
- Our Artistic Director’s inaugural solo exhibition of portraits
- Supporting and presenting a local artist in our studio as part of the hi-desert’s Highway 62 Art Tours
- Hosting a local ecologist for a lecture in collaboration with a climate drawing workshop.
As a new organization, DESERTRADE is building the bones towards its foundation. Building and maintaining a small, but strong and consistent team has helped us sustain DESERTRADE’s mission to develop space and opportunities for artists to present work in our community. This includes support for our Executive Director, Facilities Manager, Administrative Assistant, and our Artistic Director.
Initiated in 2023, DESERTRADE actively launched its programming in May 2024, and did not have any paid staff until March of 2025. Before this date, DESERTRADE operated on a volunteer basis by its Artistic Director and a team of volunteers — dancers, artists, and more.
BUNGALOWS FOR ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE
We’re hopeful that by 2026, we will have the four existing bungalows on the historic 12 acre property (established in 1927) functioning again. We are currently operating out of the functional, renovated 2200 sq ft one bedroom home (rebuilt and redesigned by Artistic Director Ryan Heffington). The space serves an artist residence and versatile presentation space for dance, exhibitions, readings and more. We plan to host residents for both free (as grant funding opportunities present) and at subsidized rates to offset operating costs.
This phase of construction will address the structures’ basic needs: upgraded plumbing, electrical, insulation and a fresh coat of paint. These bungalows will serve different functions, such as a writer’s retreat and a visual arts workshop space. Having the other spaces built out will allow us to realize our dreams of hosting up to 5 artists at once as a cross section of disciplines, giving them a space to incubate and develop their ideas together. This will also further opportunities to offer workshops for the community by artists. To keep labor costs at a minimum and engage the community, we will offer the community free building education workshops led by professionals in efforts to skill-share.