The Palm Desert City Council is considering a 10-year lease agreement with Golden Voice to install a large-scale public art piece at Civic Center Park.
The artwork, called Taffy by artist Stephanie Lynn, features five vertical towers ranging from 25 feet to 50 feet tall. The towers are built with lightweight frames wrapped in translucent scalloped mesh fabric that creates a shimmering effect as sunlight passes through them, with colors referencing mid-century design.
Golden Voice, which hosts the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and is recognized internationally for its large-scale interactive installations, would maintain ownership of Taffy. The Public Art Company would serve as Golden Voice's representative and oversee transport, installation and long-term maintenance, coordinating directly with the artist.
The city would prepare the site, including lighting, landscape, foundations and replacement of circular benches at the base of each tower that would provide shaded seating and gathering spaces.
The city's costs, funded entirely through the public art fund, would not exceed $300,000. Most expenses would cover transport and installation, with smaller fees for the artist and the Public Art Company to organize the installation. No General Fund monies would be used.
Taffy as it was seen at Coachella.
The city's Cultural Arts Committee gave the proposal strong support. The layered mesh would change appearance throughout the day and provide shifting shade patterns for multiple uses.
Because the material is perforated, there are no wind concerns, and Golden Voice would be fully responsible for any damages. The artwork will be fully engineered for wind and structural requirements.
Civic Center Park was identified as a potential location due to its visibility along the San Pablo corridor, accessibility to public parking and integration with community offerings. The 10-year lease would offer opportunities for community engagement, events and park activation over time, with the option to extend the agreement.
Staff noted that economic benefits would include tourism and visitor activity, with cities that host Coachella artworks reporting strong tourism interest through regional promotions with Palm Springs Life and Visit Greater Palm Springs. The installation would reinforce Palm Desert's commitment to the arts and complement the city's public art collection.
The council is expected to consider the lease agreement at an upcoming meeting.