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Friday, February 17, 2023
The Desert Is Their Inspiration … Their Oasis.
Sometimes the art takes over.
In Rancho Mirage, Calif., Karen and Tony Barone reinvented the interiors of their 2,000-square-foot, Midcentury Modern home into areas suited to the various forms of experimental art they produce. They gave over their entire primary home to their art, eschewing any separation of work and home life.
The Barones bought the three-bedroom home in 2004 and completed a renovation at a total cost of $700,000. One bedroom is now a green room where Ms. Barone creates elements for her performance-art videos. A den is used by Mr. Barone as a painting studio, called the rabbit hole. There is also a separate 600-square-foot atelier where they build scale models of sculptures that are later fabricated in aluminum and finished with automotive paint. “The whole place is living, breathing, eating art,” says Ms. Barone.
The couple, who previously lived in Los Angeles, says they love the desert, which allowed them the wide outdoor space they needed to display their works. Many of their installations are more than 7 feel tall. They include colorful outdoor metal sculptures of various subjects, including mythological creatures and animals such as dogs and rabbits. About three dozen are now featured throughout the property.
Having more space to display and build their work is fulfilling, says Mr. Barone. “When we came out here, we went nuts,” he says.
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Searching for weekend plans? Try one of these seasonal road trips
???? Art tour of Coachella Valley
A giant orange popsicle. Polka-dot bunny rabbits. And a towering teal dog.
These are just a few of the playful, candy-bright metal sculptures by artists Karen and Tony Barone you’ll see on a driving tour of the Coachella Valley. Visitors can use an app to navigate from Indio to Palm Springs to locate the 36 sculptures at 21 locations. The Barones say they created the experience to provide people with a way to see their art without visiting a gallery or museum during the pandemic.
Thinking about making the trip? You can access the app at BaroneArt.com.
Missing a visit to a museum or art gallery? Tired of virus restrictions?
— Karen and Tony Barone (@BaroneArtStudio) October 1, 2020
Take the Coachella Valley Barone Art Tour. Download free app at https://t.co/y42vsfKagf Hop in the car & follow app map, driving to enjoy unique sculpture pieces throughout the Coachella Valley.#ArtRules pic.twitter.com/J8U73NlyR1
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Karen and Tony Barone’s self-guided art tour is ‘an adventure’ through the Coachella Valley
Brian Blueskye | Palm Springs Desert Sun
Published 2:55 p.m. PT Sep. 15, 2020
Karen and Tony Barone don’t just create art. They live and breathe it.
The married pair of local artists live in a Rancho Mirage home with a front yard that features their sculptures of a creamsicle, a pair of chopsticks holding a shrimp, an ice cream cone, and Pegasus horse ridden by a female figure — which happens to be Karen. Their white-and-black, polka dot 2015 Volkswagen Beetle sits in the driveway.