Desert X 2019 runs from Palm Springs to the Salton Sea (with many spots in the Coachella Valley in between) from February 9 through April 21. Below is info for A Point of View and you can catch all the info you need for every Desert X installation in our complete guide here.
What: A Point of View
Artist: Ivan Argote
Where: 70th Avenue and Sea View Way, Mecca
Note: if you are looking to avoid Desert X “spoilers” stop reading here. If not, carry on.
The Lowdown:Bring a good pair of shoes, your balance, and make sure you have plenty of space on your phone for pics – because you are going to be taking a lot of them.
You will see a Desert X sign leading you to a dirt road and the installation is a short drive up the bumpy, sandy road. Everyone seems to be parking on the north side of the narrow road, allowing for traffic to move on the other.
You will know you are there staircases to your right…yeah, staircases in the middle of nowhere, baby!
Park your ride and venture over to the stairs, which you will note has some messages for you on English and Spanish. What do the words mean tho?!? Well, you can see that for yourself.
It’s slightly unsettling to climb the stairs as there are no rails – and we live in a world full of rails now – especially when there are quite a few people around. Just be aware of those around you and FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON’T FALL OFF!
The views here are pretty epic and be sure to have someone take a pic of you with the Salton Sea or the mountains or whatever view you like best.
Finally, you might be asking why five staircases and why are they placed that way? Well, according to Argote, the stairs function as sundials “representing time in fragmentation.”
Anyway, it’s a pretty cool installation – so take the 45 minute drive east from Palm Springs and maybe plan some extra time to see the other East Valley Desert X installations and maybe even Salvation Mountain and the International Banana Museum (yes, you read that right).
