In addition to the Palm Springs Pride Festival entertainment lineup, including headliners Third Eye Blind, Jody Watley, and A Flock of Seagulls, the Greater Palm Springs Pride organization announced the festival would boast a spectacular art installation. American artist Yvette Mattern’s Global Rainbow, a laser light sculpture, will be presented by Lighthouse Dispensary Palm Springs and Coachella. The large-scale public laser light installation will be a featured attraction during the Pride weekend festivities.
The work aims to celebrate diverse communities and symbolize hope and peace. Seven rays of laser light representing the spectrum of the seven colors of a rainbow will originate from high above Palm Canyon Dr. At Amado Rd. The colors used in Mattern’s work are the same colors found in the Gilbert Baker rainbow flag, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. The exhibition’s west coast premiere will run two consecutive nights, beginning November 5, 2021.
“Lighthouse Dispensary Palm Springs & Coachella are proud sponsors for the 2021 Greater Palm Springs Pride Festival. Carrying various LGBTQIA+ owned & operated brands, we also work with local artists and curators to showcase art installations throughout the year in-store, supporting diversity while promoting inclusion as part of our core values,” said Kadey Garner purchaser & inventory manager for the Palm Springs Lighthouse.
The artwork will utilize specially designed lasers to project a large-scale abstraction of a natural rainbow. The seven parallel laser light beams will hover above Palm Canyon Drive as far as the eye can see until they finally diminish to a colorful glow over South Palm Canyon.
President of Palm Springs Pride, Ron deHarte, says, “We have followed Yvette Mattern’s work for years and hoped one day her Global Rainbow would be featured at Palm Springs Pride. We are grateful to have the support for this installation from Lighthouse Dispensaries. Their support of the arts has made it possible for the Global Rainbow debut in Palm Springs.”
The installation will come to life during the free Coming Out Celebration from 5 pm to 10:15 pm on Palm Canyon Dr at Amado. Evening entertainment includes headliner Jody Watley, Jeanie Tracey, and Shannon. Jason Stuart will host appearances by SAG-AFTRA members including Robin Tyler, Selene Luna, and Suwon Weaver. Bella da Ball will also host and present Charles Herrera, Steven Michael’s Dance Machine, Sassy Ross, and the LA DJ duo, The Perry Twins.
A fundraising VIP pre-event cocktail reception is presented by Southwest Airlines and supported by US Bank and Hyatt Palm Springs. Benefiting the 501c(3) Palm Springs Pride organization, tickets are available online for $45 and include a hosted bar from Effen Vodka, Makers Mark, and Sipsmith. Tickets at https://www.universe.com/comingout