Marilyn soon to say good-bye to Palm Springs

The Forever Marilyn Statue, which has called Palm Springs home for over 22 months will soon be gone announced P.S. Resorts, the non-profit organization that promotes Palm Springs tourism through events and attractions.

The group announced today that the Forever Marilyn sculpture by artist Seward Johnson, will leave Palm Springs at the end of March. A community farewell event to bid her a fond goodbye is planned for Thursday, March 27, at 6 PM, during Village Fest in downtown Palm Springs.

“Palm Springs is undergoing a historic renaissance and Forever Marilyn has been a tremendous tourism booster to our downtown. I want to thank the Sculpture Foundation for working with the City and P.S. Resorts to keep her here as long as possible,” said Mayor Steve Pougnet. “I encourage everyone in the Coachella Valley to join us on Thursday, March 27 as we say farewell to a true Palm Springs icon.”

“Forever Marilyn has brought joy to thousands of visitors who traveled to Palm Springs to see her over the past 22 months,” said Aftab Dada, chairman of P.S. Resorts. “We could not have dreamed of the amount of positive publicity and attention she brought to the city of Palm Springs during her stay. For that, we are forever grateful.”

The Forever Marilyn sculpture was scheduled to remain in Palm Springs through June 2013, or for one year, but two extensions made by the sculpture’s owner allowed it to stay here until next month. From Palm Springs, the sculpture will travel to Hamilton, New Jersey for a life-time retrospective exhibition and gala honoring its creator, 84-year old artist Seward Johnson, at the 42-acre sculpture park Grounds For Sculpture.

The exhibit will consist of an amazing collection of over 150 of his sculptures, displayed in three interior museums and throughout the gardens of the parklands. Many works will be on loan from private and museum collections and there is a film and a coffee table book accompanying the exhibition.