Keys' Desert Queen Ranch Mural This 'Mural In A Weekend' project in Twentynine Palms, CA was painted on April 13 & 14, 2013, by Art and a large group of volunteer artists. Art spent the previous week laying the design out on the wall and mixing up all the colors with the help of a few locals, then the volunteers came on Saturday and Sunday to paint in the mural. Bill Keys arrived in the Twentynine Palms area in 1910 to be caretaker of the Desert Queen Mine in what is now Joshua Tree National Park. When the mine fell on hard times and the owner could not pay Bill's wages, he gave the mine to Bill as payment. Bill then homesteaded the nearby mill site, married his wife Frances, built a house, and began to raise a family. Bill and Frances persevered and created a good life for themselves and their family in this difficult and challenging environment. Bill lived at the Ranch until he passed away in 1969 and is buried next to his wife Frances on the Ranch.    Keys' Desert Queen Ranch Mural    acrylic on nonwoven polyester cloth, April 2013    Twentynine Palms, CA

Click on an image to see full page