Local Art Gallery Owner Receives School Award

In its 22nd January meeting, the Palm Springs Unified School District Board presented Rick Pantele, owner of the IncredibleArtist.Com Gallery, with the district's Shiny Apple Award "for his extensive efforts and generosity in providing a high quality and unique experience in the Fine Arts to the students of the District".

In November 2007, Rick Pantele went on tour with incredible artists Vernon Finney (83), Christopher Dailey (22) and TAG (27), and over a dozen works of art including Vernon Finney's masterpieces "Reach" and "The Creator". Over five days they visited six middle and high schools in Palm Springs and Cathedral City to show students fine art and to give them an opportunity to hear the artists discuss their work and themselves. The "Incredible Art Tour" had 12 shows in five days, and was featured in the local news and a video documentary by Joel Hochberg. The tour was organized by the IncredibleArtist.Com Gallery and sponsored by generous local businesses who helped to defray the costs of transport and for printed materials for the students.

"This was quite an unusual undertaking which had a tremendous impact on the District's students. For the serious art students, it was especially inspirational and informative. For all attendees, the show spoke to the power of imagination and creative thinking. Rick was unfailingly enthusiastic and generous throughout the entire process. He is changing lives through his gift of making art the bond that ties."

"It was one of the most worthwhile experiences I've been involved in for many years," said Rick Pantele. "I look forward to continuing with art presentations at schools." Rick is now in discussion with PSUSD to take the Incredible Art Tour to Desert Hot Springs schools in 2008.

The gallery is located at 333 N Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 101A at Amado, in Downtown Palm Springs near the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Ample parking is available in the rear of the Amado Business Center. Telephone 760-325-5917, e-mail info@incredibleartist.com, web.

Specializing in local emerging artists, the IncredibleArtist.Com Gallery in downtown Palm Springs is unique: Open ‘til late at night, slideshows on the wall inside and the sidewalk outside highlight the artwork. Artists are in attendance most nights to meet visitors, and passers-by can watch an artist at work in the window painting a new piece.