Call for Art! Artists and creators of all ages, mark your calendars! If you live in the Morongo Basin and have an interest in recycling, repurposing, and reimaging, now is your opportunity to share your artistic transformations at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum’s 20th annual recycled art exhibition, this year titled, “Wondrous Waste.” To see a list of the Rules and Regulations for the exhibition, please click here.
Entries from Morongo Basin artists can be brought to the Museum from March 11-14, 2026. Entries from artists outside the Morongo Basin will be accepted March 14th if space is available.
The exhibition, “Wondrous Waste: 2026 Recycled Art Exhibition,” will run from Saturday, March 21 through Saturday, May 9, 2026.
For additional information, please contact Collections & Exhibits Coordinator Charlie Rossow at 760-369-7212 or crossow@yucca-valley.org.
Upcoming Events
Saturday, January 10, 2026
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
$15/participant
Explore the world of origami and discover how the mathematics behind this ancient artform influenced a modern-day revolution in STEM research.
Participants will create an original origami masterpiece using fundamental folding techniques to transform a flat surface into a complex 3D design.
Registration is required! Click here for more information.
Saturday, January 24, 2026
2:00 p.m.
Insects are some of nature’s most skilled illusionists, blending seamlessly into their surroundings or cleverly imitating other organisms for survival.
This presentation by Scott Heacox explores the fascinating strategies insects use to hide from predators, ambush prey, and even impersonate plants, animals, and other insects. From leaf-like katydids to wasp-mimicking moths, discover how these remarkable adaptations reveal the creativity of evolution and the hidden drama of the natural world.
This lecture is free to the public, and registration is not required.
Saturday, January 31, 2026
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Children ages 7-17 are invited to join Dissertation Soap and Dr. Julie Reints, Ph.D., for a free, interactive STEAM-inspired workshop that blends science and creativity to connect complex scientific concepts with everyday experiences.
A special thank you to Catclaw, the generous sponsor whose donation allows this workshop to be provided free of charge. Space is limited and registration is required. This workshop is likely to fill up quickly, so early registration is highly recommended!
For more information or to register, click here!
Saturday, February 7, 2026
11:00 a.m.
Join representatives from the San Bernardino County Department of Health as they provide important information about public health and mosquito prevention. Their interactive presentation will include:
- An educational talk on mosquitoes and how to prevent them
- A display of taxidermy specimens of rodents and other vectors
- One-on-one engagement with community members to answer questions and share resources
This event will take place at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum. It is free and open to the public!
Currently On Display
NATURE'S BLUEPRINTS:
BIOMIMICRY IN ART AND DESIGN
On Display November 22, 2025 to March 7, 2026
The exhibition, Nature’s Blueprints: Biomimicry in Art and Design, brings together art and design with environmental science using artifacts, artworks and photography, as well as interactive learning stations.
This exhibition is aimed to encourage discourse among audiences of all backgrounds as our understanding of the natural world can lead to some extraordinary creations that improve lives and reduce our impact on the environment. Nature’s Blueprints: Biomimicry in Art and Design is an adaptation of the High Desert Museum’s Innovation Lab: Design Inspired by Nature, and is produced and toured by ExhibitsUSA, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance.
Click here for more information on Nature’s Blueprints: Biomimicry in Art and Design.
Photo Credits:
*Roger Bruhn, Photograph of Patrick Dougherty’s Three of a Kind, Private Residence in Nebraska, 2013; digital photograph, 10 7/8 x 16 3/8; Courtesy of Karen and Robert Duncan
*Alan Bur Johnson, Progeny Fig. 2, 2011; photographic transparencies and insect pins, 15 x 18 x 3 inches framed; Courtesy of the artist and Lisa Sette Gallery
Our Giant Rock: A Community Touchstone in the Mojave
A digital exhibit and archive about Giant Rock, a 30,000 ton granite boulder located in the Morongo Basin.
This interactive touchscreen exhibit encourages visitors to discover and explore the nuances that make Giant Rock a unique and cherished Morongo Basin landmark. Giant Rock is most notoriously known for the ‘giant’ personalities who lived near and even under it. However, it has also served as an intermediary for certain stories and events. The exhibit provides a series of interpretive narratives explaining these nuances while incorporating some never-before-seen images, documents, publications, and videos which help illustrate Giant Rock’s history.
Our Giant Rock: A Community Touchstone in the Mojave,was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Would you like to make a donation? Museum staff are happy to accept your donation in person or you can click the link below to be taken the Recreation Management portal to complete an online donation. Simply click on the green Museum tab, then Museum Sponsorship, and select your donation level. Your donations help fund children’s education programming, animal caretaking, exhibit maintenance, and so much more! Thank you for your kind donation!
