A Birthday Wish for the Man Behind the Steel
Posted by the Simi Dabah Sculpture Foundation
May 4, 2026

 

May 4th is a special day in Joshua Tree.
It’s the birthday of the man who spent decades turning raw steel into enduring art — who shaped not just metal, but an entire landscape, a legacy, and a community.When Larry Bowden, the Foundation President, once asked Simi Dabah how old he was, Simi replied simply: “I’m old”.
A few years later, that still holds true.
And somehow, it still makes us smile.

The Man Behind the Sculpture Garden
Simi Dabah has never been one for ceremony. He is a maker, first and always — someone whose hands have told more stories than his words ever needed to. Over the course of his career he has created more than 2000 sculptures of which only 350 are now on display across 8.5 acres of Joshua Tree desert, standing in concert with the wind, the rocks, and the sky.
Each piece is forged in steel. Each piece is rooted in community.  That is not a tagline. It is a description of who Simi is.

Time Spent Well
Larry and Dana have had the privilege of spending time with Simi and Julie — moments that can’t be quantified on a balance sheet or catalogued in a database. They are the kinds of moments that make the work of preservation feel less like an obligation and more like honor.
“He is an inspiration to me” Larry wrote this morning, in a simple, quiet tribute posted to our web site.

What It Means to Preserve a Legacy
The Simi Dabah Sculpture Foundation exists because great art — and the lives that produce it — deserve to be protected, shared, and passed forward.
Every sculpture donated to a public institution carries Simi’s vision into a new community. Every visitor who walks the Sunfair grounds encounters something that cannot be manufactured: the presence of simple creativity.

On this birthday, we pause from the work of preservation to simply say:
“Happy Birthday, Simi. Thank you for making things that last.”

Want to visit the sculpture garden or learn more about our donation programs? Contact Larry or explore our on line catalog to see Simi’s remaining sculptures.  

The Simi Dabah Sculpture Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Joshua Tree, CA.

We preserve the legacy of Simi Dabah through stewardship of his outdoor sculpture garden and an active program of institutional donations.

This time it is for Dana’s 41st anniversary of her 29th Birthday. 

Simi Dabah made this sculpture in 2011 for John Mastersons 70th birthday.  John decided to keep it moving as other local people turned 70.  It has been all around 29 Palms for the last 15 years.  We have a list of the people that had it in their yard but not sure if it is complete.  If you had it please let us know.  

Happy Birthday

Larry Bowden, President of the SDSF presents Anne Lear with a $5000.00 check that will go towards upgrading the kitchen area.  

The SDSF is offering a 10% discount if you purchase a sculpture and 40% of the sale will go directly to VFW Post 7264 as a way to help them raise money.  This fundraiser will go until the end of April.  

Thank you for your support. 

2025 

The Foundation sold 40 sculptures this past year and donated 34 sculptures that were all placed for permanent display at Twentynine Palms Art Gallery, Twentynine Palms Cemetery, Twentynine Palms Historical Society and Eden’s Garden in Los Angeles. 

The Foundation also donated $22,500.00 to 15 Morongo Basin non profit organizations. Yucca Valley Animal Rescue, Reach Our 29, Kiwanis, 29 Palms Food Pantry, 29 Palms Animal Shelter, VFW, Hope Community Center, TPHS and numerous food distribution projects.  

We donate sculptures to organizations that will permanently display them on their property.  Please contact us if your are interested so we can look into the possibility.  

We are open on Saturdays from 9 to 3 and available by appointment.  Contact        Larry Bowden at 760-501-1718.

Campers enjoying the spider at Camp Paivika (amphitheatre in backgroundThis is a 

This was never published on the site and I found it to be a very nice Thank You that I wanted to share.

July 26, 2012: Kelly Kunsek, Director of Camp Paivika was enthusiastic about their new installation and sent this note to sculptor Simi Dabah, “On behalf of the many campers, their families and other visitors to Ability First Camp Paivika, Thank you! We absolutely love the amazing sculptures that you created and allowed us to pick out for our camp in Crestline (California). Camp Paivika is a camp for children and adults with disabilities of varying degrees. We are located in the beautiful San Bernardino National Forest and your work fits perfectly into our setting. I particularly fell in love with the “spider”, and he has a beautiful spot underneath the pines right outside of our main lodge and adjacent to our outdoor amphitheater. We also selected your set of three “gears” which are placed around the camp for all to enjoy.”

This is the second time we have been able to donate to the Palms-N-Paws Courage Fund in the last few years.  Below is a story that came out shortly after our last donation.  It’s a great story and worth reading again if you have already seen it.  I told Rick when it came out “I want to tell people that was our donation that helped that dog” he laughed and said go for it because what you donated is close to what the vet bill was.  We are all just happy to hear of such a great outcome and happy to report the dog is still doing well a few years later living with the person that took him in as a short term foster that quickly turned into a lifetime adoption.  

Wishing everyone a peaceful and Happy Thanksgiving.

We will be open Saturday November 29 from 9-4 and  Sunday morning. 

Appointments can be made by contacting Larry Bowden at 760-501-1718.

Simi Dabah Sculptures donated $1000 to the Hope Center 29 to help support their “Breakfast for Hope.” Founded in December 2023, The Hope Center is a nonprofit dedicated to hope and community empowerment. They offer programs in financial literacy, health access, youth development, and wellness, creating a supportive space for growth and connection.

Simi Dabah Sculptures is proud to support a beacon of hope in Twentynine Palms.

Everyone deserves a warm meal and a little hope.

The Foundation also supported local business leader Angie Flourney of Twentynine Palms’ Soul Food restaurant, Wing-N-It, for their 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Community Turkey Dinner. This event offers a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for locals to participate in a community gathering. 

Coinciding with the Highway 62 Art Tours, which the Simi Dabah Sculpture Foundation has participated in the past, this October brought new sales of 17 sculptures, which sold for $10,000! 

Continuing the legacy of Simi Dabah, this unique opportunity capitalized on the bubbling tourist activity taking place in the Morongo Basin and surrounding Joshua Tree Gateway communities during the Highway 62 Art Tours, an annual event showcasing local artists, studios, and events in Joshua Tree.

Connecting both tourists and locals alike for the opportunity to discover art, meet artists, and enjoy cultural experiences.

The sculptures sold during the period ranged in price from $120 – $4500.