By Ersilia Pompilio
You might have strolled past Michael Weems' gallery on Palm Canyon late at night, perhaps without even noticing. Then, a sign in the window that looks like it belongs in a sandwich shop —"This is not the time to pee in the pool"—jolts you back to reality. Intrigued, you are drawn to return the next day to discover what this vibrant space offers.
You return and open the door to find an eccentric older woman dressed in vibrant pink and purple spandex from the '80s, exploring a gallery of art made from colorful pharmaceutical pills. The walls feature portraits of multicolored phalluses reimagined as Gerber floral arrangements, alongside coasters adorned with quirky phrases like "You never told me about your STD? Our STD," and canvas bags that read "Gucci Bitch” and "Cult Leader." To top it all off, a calico cat peeks out from a clear spherical luggage case that the older woman is carrying reminiscent of the cheshire cat that beckoned Alice to explore ‘Wonderland’ further.
No, you haven't entered the Twilight Zone; it feels more like you've tumbled through the looking glass into an adult version of Alice in Wonderland—complete with a backroom vintage porn exhibit. The gallery patrons are just as whimsical, if not more so, than the artist, Michael Weems.
The Man Behind the Gallery
"Palm Springs is such a crazy decadent town. It's so much fun." Michael jovially boasts a big charismatic smile and a larger than life personality.
Growing up in a conservative Methodist background and initially from the east coast Annapolis, Maryland area, Michael worked for high-end boutiques like Gucci and Tiffany's and became a crystal designer specializing in colored crystal tableware that was hand etched and carved like Lalique crystal, which was sold at over 900 outlets in some of the best stores in the world like Sack's Fifth Avenue, Gerry's in Beverly Hills, Neiman Marcus and Harrod's in London. Michael's crystal pieces became the official gift for the White House during the Busch Administration.
"After 9/11, Americans were only wanting to buy American-made products. People were calling French fries' freedom fries, 'and that's when I introduced Americans to colored crystal tableware. We made over 350 pieces of glass in my studio, and then I burned out. I just wanted to be in the desert. I just wanted to be in Palm Springs." states Michael Weems.
Michael moved to Palm Springs, California, in 2004. One day, while lounging in his pool, he pondered his next move. After some time, he got out of the pool and headed to White Water, sat on some rocks meditatively as the ants and bugs began to crawl on him. Deep in thought, he noticed a beautiful abandoned vintage car that sparked an idea: to create art from old vehicles. He hired a metal worker to teach him the craft and began exploring junkyards. Initially, he knew little about cars, but as car enthusiasts visited his shop and admired his pieces, he learned from them. They often exclaimed, "How could you cut up that 1965 Cadillac?" Michael would respond, "It was junk!" Which he then transformed into art.
Michael opened his gallery on Palm Canyon shortly after, showcasing his unique art pieces crafted from vintage cars alongside custom jewelry made from brown diamonds. Inspired by his patrons' amusing and outlandish comments, he began creating coasters featuring hilarious sayings that captured the spirit of their interactions.
Poolside Art
"There's Miami. There are beach cities and other cities in general. Palm Springs holds something so different." Michael passionately explains and holds up a large print of a naked man swimming underwater in a pool. "That's a picture of me in my pool," he adds.
"What's so wonderful about Palm Springs is even if you are not in a pool, it's just being near a pool and having the light and the shadow play off the pool and the ripples of the water. It's magic. As a Pisces, it's what led me to be here. I love the peace and tranquility and the magic of the city and the gentle breeze through the palm trees."
Michael Weems is launching a new collection of ceramic plates inspired by swimming pools, dubbed his Palm Springs Poolside Collection, in November 2024. "The pool is everything. It's our sanctuary, and it changes our mood. This captivating series invites you to embrace the joy of Palm Springs, California, by the pool, blending water and artistry in a way that celebrates leisure and fun.
Don't Forget to Visit the Secret Vintage Porn Exhibit
There's a secret space much like an art speakeasy in the back of the Michael Weems gallery where you can find an exhibit on 'secret vintage porn.'
"The vintage porn of the guy peeing, that photograph fell out of the back of a picture that I bought from an old Christian woman at an antique shop outside of Los Angeles. It's legit secret porn. The twist is that the picture in front of the frame was a picture of a German nun in the 1940's." Michael Weems states that he then restored all the photos of vintage porn and put them on display in the secret back room.
"The funny thing is I put the picture of the nun and the guy peeing in the gallery's front window. One day, I noticed that flocks of nuns started to come into the store. It freaked me out!"
The Michael Weems gallery is not to be missed when you visit Palm Springs with your SQUAD. The gallery will enhance your Palm Springs Poolside experience. And if you're lucky, you might encounter interesting characters shopping alongside you.
About the author
Ersilia Pompilio is the Editor in Chief of SQUAD Magazine, a Palm Springs guide for bachelorettes and ladies who love leisure. With over two decades of experience performing, producing live storytelling shows, and hosting a podcast, she has taught storytelling classes and written professionally for several media outlets. Originally from Los Angeles, Ersilia is also a twenty-year resident of Palm Springs,
Comments