The Artistry of Erin Hanson in Borrego Springs Area

Classic musical offers six performances at Julian High School's Little Theater

Renowned plein air artist Geoff Allen found inspiration in one of Borrego Springs’ most iconic locations: The Palms at Indian Head pool.

Free Summer Movies Continue in Borrego Springs This July

Hubbell’s dining room table bathed in warm light surrounded in beautifully crafted art in addition to surrounding heirloom art from Jones family. Photo courtesy Ilan Lael Foundation, 2020 East County News Services  June 18, 2026 (Julian) — Hidden among 10 acres of oak woodland in the mountains of Santa Ysabel sits an architectural marvel that bridges the boundaries between art and nature — and this local hidden gem has now received new national acclaim. The Ilan-Lael Foundation announced recently that the home and studio of its founders, the late artist James Hubbell and his wife Anne, has been officially accepted into the Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios program, a prestigious coalition under the National Trust for Historic Preservation . By achieving this designation, Ilan-Lael joins an elite group of 93 sites across 32 states, placing Hubbell’s property alongside the creative sanctuaries of renowned American artists such as Thomas Hart Benton, James W. Washington Jr., and Dorothy Riester. James Hubbell (1931–2024) was widely regarded as both a visionary artist and an organic architect. Over a span of more than six decades, he and Anne constructed 13 distinct structures on their Santa Ysabel compound. Often described as “habitable sculptures,” the buildings are defined by their deep roots in the surrounding landscape, utilizing found natural materials, intricate mosaics, stained glass, and custom ironwork. Hubbell’s ethereal designs extend far beyond his mountain retreat; his public and private works have graced hundreds of spaces across Southern California and the Pacific Rim. “We are beyond honored to have received this designation that will help us continue to commemorate Jim’s legacy,” said Marianne Gerdes, executive director at the Ilan-Lael Foundation. “Since his passing, we have strived to uphold his belief that art and nature work harmoniously. The property has always been the best hidden gem of San Diego, and now the recognition helps us to share the magic with the public.” Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios operates as a peer-to-peer museum coalition dedicated to preserving the primary residences and creative workspaces of notable American artists. As the only national entity focused on site-specific narratives in American art history, HAHS provides expertise in historic preservation, visitor programming, and community outreach. For the Ilan-Lael Foundation, this induction reinforces its ongoing mission to act as a community educator and arts advocate. Following James Hubbell’s passing in 2024, the foundation has actively expanded public access to his lifework. Historically, the private property was only open to the community during an annual Father’s Day weekend tour hosted by James and Anne. Today, the ILF has broadened its reach to include year-round tours with expanded access to the Santa Ysabel headquarters and studios; public exhibition showcasing Hubbell’s work at prominent locations (including the San Diego International Airport and the Oceanside Museum of Art); and educational partnerships, fostering continuous learning environments with local institutions such as UC San Diego, Palomar College and the Julian Union School District. Through these initiatives, the foundation continues to explore new avenues to engage the community, inspire creativity, and sustain Hubbell’s vision of a sanctuary where art and nature coexist perfectly. To learn more about the Ilan-Lael Foundation, explore James Hubbell’s artistic legacy or schedule a visit to the newly recognized historic property, visit ilanlaelfoundation.org

Art, History, and Scenic Views Just 38 Miles Away

Free hands-on clay, pottery, and glazing experiences planned for summer mornings in Borrego Springs. ArtPark continues to grow as a place for creativity, learning, and community in Borrego Springs. This summer, visitors can explore a new hands-on art experience as John DeLois, in partnership with the Borrego Art Institute, plans to offer free ceramics workshops at ArtPark. Participants will have the opportunity to work with clay, learn basic pottery techniques, try the pottery wheels, explore glazing, and have their creations fired and ready to take home. An open worktable will also be available for creative projects and demonstrations. Dates are still being finalized, but workshops are expected to take place on Saturday, and Sunday mornings throughout the summer. Located on the Borrego Art Institute campus, ArtPark combines community gardens, orchard space, outdoor learning areas, and public art, making it a unique place to discover something new. Whether you're interested in gardening, art, fresh produce, or simply enjoying the desert landscape, ArtPark offers opportunities to connect, learn, and create. Visitors are encouraged to stop by during the summer to see what's happening. You may find volunteers in the gardens, fresh produce available, a community project underway, or a pottery wheel spinning. For ArtPark information, contact Wade at (760) 767-5152 or email artfarm@borregoartinstitute.org .

By: Andrea McKenna

By: Brice Weaver When photography emerged, painting did not disappear, but it undeniably changed. Portrait painters and masters of realism were no longer needed in the same way because photography could document reality faster and more accurately. Art evolved, but the expectations changed. A painter like Rembrandt or Monet spent years mastering light, form, and observation because there was no alternative. Photography changed the role of painting, and with it, what culture rewarded. Looking at photography today, I wonder if we are watching a similar shift happen again. This is not a film versus digital argument. I shoot both. Nor is it an argument against technology. Better cameras and editing tools have expanded what photographers can do. But we should also ask what those tools may be changing. Photography once demanded intentionality. You had to recognize light, anticipate moments, understand timing, and know when to press the shutter. As technology advanced, many photographers shifted from intentional decisions in the moment to fixing and shaping images later. Exposure could be recovered. Composition refined. Light reshaped. Moods built in post. Photographers like Ansel Adams heavily interpreted images in the darkroom, but the essence of the scene remained intact. The mountain was still there. The light existed. Dodging and burning shaped feeling, but the photograph remained tied to a real encounter with the world. Today, much of what is rewarded by social platforms and even professional organizations is no longer simply photography. Through editing, compositing, and AI-assisted tools, photographers are increasingly building scenes instead of witnessing them. At what point does a photograph stop being a photograph? And maybe the harder question: at what point does a photographer stop being a photographer and become something closer to a digital artist or graphic designer? If most of the light is created after the fact, skies replaced, atmosphere added, and moods manufactured, are we still talking about photography in the traditional sense? My bigger concern is that photographers may be slowly editing themselves out of relevance. If the profession increasingly rewards manufactured outcomes and visual perfection over patience, then AI becomes the logical next step. Why hire a photographer if the goal is simply a compelling visual result? AI will generate it faster, cheaper, and without travel, waiting, weather, or years spent learning how to see. Maybe the future value of photography will not come from those who can create the most visually perfect image, but from those who still choose to witness the world rather than manufacture it. Because eventually we may discover that what gave photographs meaning was never perfection, but presence and evidence that a particular moment, place, or truth once existed, and that someone cared enough to see it. briceweaverphotography.com