High on Pinyon

Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer Eric Burdon writes in his new autobiography, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," that when he needed a break from the madness of L.A. in the late 60s, he'd come to Palm Desert to visit the girl-friend of his former guitarist in the Animals, Hilton Valentine.

He wrote, "An accomplished artist who continues to live and work in the area, Ming Lowe, at that time had a little house and studio that became a refuge from the madness of Hollywood. It was a great meeting place for artists and travelers attracted to the desert."

Ming moved to Pinyon Pines a few years ago when PD started getting too crowded, but lately, she's been turning her friends on to the wonders of that little community the way she was exposing them to the desert 20 years ago. Not only has she introduced Eric, me and others to Pinyon's tightknit artists' community, she's captured the uniqueness of their scene in black-and-white photographs. Many are on display at the Sugarloaf Cafe on Highway 74 in Pinyon Crest.

Ming has worked in many styles and media. She's so well known for her abstract expressionistic pastels that it's rather amazing to see her photo realistic portrait of her beloved grandparents in her house. But this is her first exhibition of photographs and she's thrilled to see them in frames on the Sugarloaf walls.

"This is the most amazing thing I've ever done," she said.

Her photos capture the uniqueness of the rural mountain town and it's residents.

-Bruce Fessier