High Desert Art Fair & Dorado 806 Projects 2026
I’m very proud of Dorado 806 Projects for their brilliant, warm, soulful, and engaging installation in Room 6 at the Pioneertown Motel for the High Desert Art Fair (see my photos here!). Amelie Laurice, Meghan DeRoma, Suwichada Busamrong, and Dero Christensen’s visual work harmonized to make a rich, dreamy yet animated, golden Spring song, which many felt was the hit of the fair (of course, along with the breathtaking desert herself, always the star of the show…and Mark Mothersbaugh and Shepard Fairey)!
Shepard served up a DJ set at Red Dog Friday night, and was in a brilliant panel talk with Mark Mothersbaugh Saturday afternoon. Mark performed at Pappy & Harriett’s Saturday night, after a DJ set by Money Mark! I’m also a big fan of the fair’s exhibitors Yucca Valley Materials Lab and the Library of Esoterica, and was delighted to talk with them both.
Both HDAF and Dorado are in their 5th year! It’s HDAF’s second at Pioneertown Motel. Dorado 806 is based at the end of Route 66, in sunny Santa Monica. What began in 2021 as an artist studio space with Amelie, myself, and Mark x Farina (who also included a piece in Dorado’s installation, as well as some work around the motel grounds), has evolved into a dynamic artist-run gallery/event space that hosts not only exhibitions, but workshops, musical/sound performances, poetry/spoken word readings, tea ceremonies, artist residencies and most recently, Art Rites — artist-led, process-based sessions exploring various media and techniques in a social yet meditative setting.
Amelie, Meghan, Dero, and Chris Gee (of the Sycons Solar DJs, with Mark x Farina) are the current Curator-Directors. Their vision is steadily expanding Dorado’s scope from an accessible, inspiring local hub of creative and communal activity to drawing artists from across the country and around the world. The development of workshops like group Plein Air painting, funded in part by the City of Santa Monica, and now the above-described Art Rites, are the latest dimension of Dorado, which I’ve found very enriching to participate in!
Dorado 806 Projects truly stands out from many galleries, being about creative community as much as art or selling work. As Amelie says, they weave together people sharing a spirit of openness, experimentation, down-to-earth kindness, and generosity. They’re about supporting and helping one another - to belong, grow, and thrive in “the Art life.” Dorado 806, like the name suggests, has a heart of gold, and is a treasure to our city- and beyond!
