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my own life — my transition from Michigan 
to the desert and the change from the artistic 
medium I have been using for the last 55 years,” 
said Aronson, who will have about 30 pieces 
in the show to demonstrate the expansion of 
skills gained in the 1970s as he studied at and 
graduated from the School of the Art Institute 
of Chicago.
“I’m primarily a printmaker with etchings 
and lithographs in black and white and shades 
of gray; but coming out to California, I switched 
to oil paint, and I began to respond to the 
beautiful environment around me,” he added. 
“It’s desert, but it has a tremendous amount 
of color, especially in the spring. I responded 
to all of the color and the different shapes and 
images. That’s really what is reflected in my 
painting. I didn’t do oil painting until I moved 
here so it was a whole new medium for me.”
Aronson said he believes his spirituality 
comes across in his works of art even though 
they don’t reveal specifically Jewish images. 
“The art pieces reflect my love of nature in 
the strokes of painting,” he said. “I love the 
feel of the brush on plexiglass. It reflects a new 
phase of my life where I’m more focused on the 
world around me because I have more time to 
do that. 
“In the monotypes I have been doing, there’s 
the theme of a road. I’ve been thinking about 
where I’m going in life and what my spiritual 
road forward is.”

Catching the Joshua Tree Dream Experience
Detroit
&

Glimpses of the Joshua Tree Dream book launch 

Created by Lisa Schyck

CATCHING A DREAM
The book tells about and pictures the 
desert environment the couple and 
other creative people have chosen 
and describes individual life stories of 
those who also moved into the Joshua 
Tree area. 
“There were unique and similar 
stories as to why people were moving 
to Joshua Tree, and it really was about 
people following their dreams to live 
authentically and feeling free to do art, 
music and things like that,” said Lisa 
Schyck-Aronson, who did corporate 
human resources work in Michigan 
before studying and practicing interior 
design after the couple’s move west.
“We came up with the title ‘Catching 
the Joshua Tree Dream’ for the exhibit 
in thinking wherever you’re at in the 
world, it doesn’t matter. You can catch 
your dream and live authentically, and 
I feel that is very inspiring. People in 
the book set that example.”
While Schyck-Aronson wrote the 
forward and the introduction to the 
book, the essays were written by Katie 
Nartonis, and pictures were done 
by Bill Brewer, whose photography 
projects also will be on display and 
shown among the artistry of surrealist 
Snake Jagger, abstract painter Susan 
Kearns and assemblage artist Bobby 
Furst. 
“I have videos with people from the 
book to show during the exhibit to 
make it a more immersive experience,” 
said Schyck-Aronson, who explained 
that this move also allows her husband 
to live closer to his family members 

who have chosen western living places. 
While Aronson is no longer doing 
exacting fundraising, he is helping 
clients prepare for their financial 
futures, and among his clients is the 
Friendship Circle. That is why the 
first day of the exhibit, on Aug. 8, is 
a private showing and will emphasize 
compositions by the adult artists 
being served and showcased by that 
organization.
“Living in the desert is like living 
on a different planet,” Aronson said. 
“It takes some getting used to, and 
it’s been about four years for us. The 
climate is completely different. 
“The landscape — the plants, 
the trees, the rocks, the mountains, 
everything out here — is very 
strikingly beautiful. It’s very inspiring, 
and it’s affected my work and spiritual 
growth. 
“
As Jews, we started out in the 
desert. Sometimes it feels a little 
isolating because Detroit is my home 
and has held most of my career. I was 
surrounded by people, and here it’s 
just basically Lisa and me and our two 
dogs.” 

Details 
The exhibit “Catching the Joshua 
Tree Dream” and the introduction 
of the book Glimpses of the Joshua 
Tree Dream run 5-8 p.m. Friday, 
Aug. 9, and 1-5 p.m. Saturday and 
Sunday, Aug. 10-11, at the Galerie 
Camille, 4130 Cass Ave., Suite C, 
Detroit. (248) 245-6650.

Desert in Spring by 
Robert Aronson

