Charles J. Evered House – Artist Residency for Veterans

About the “CJE House”

The Charles J. Evered House (CJE House) is a program division of Hi-Desert Cultural Center whose mission is to facilitate the creativity of veterans and those who serve in conflict zones. Located in the renowned artistic communities of Joshua Tree National Park and established by noted writer/director Charles Evered, who himself served as a lieutenant in the US Navy Reserve. The CJE House is named in honor of his father, Charles J. Evered (1918-1979), who was a veteran of World War II, Army Air Corps. In addition, John O’Hara Evered, (Charles J. Evered’s grandson), served as a US Naval Sea Cadet, and Margaret A. Evered, (Charles J’s granddaughter), has served as a Junior Member of the Princeton New Jersey fire department, rounding out three generations of family service.

The CJE House has brought together an impressive group of successful artists and supporters (Mentor Board) that have agreed to work with the residents in their chosen field, should they request such guidance. The Mentor Board has among its ranks best-selling authors, Emmy, Tony and other major award-winning working artists and related professionals that are willing to volunteer their time and mentor our residents.

PURPOSE

The establishment of an artist residency venue in the Southern California area near Joshua Tree National Park that is specifically meant to serve veterans who are artists.

The pool of residents will include writers (screenwriters, playwrights, poets, short story writers, novelists and journalists), artists (both fine and commercial), musicians and photographers—including photographers and journalists that have served in conflict zones, the Middle East, Africa, and any geographical area worldwide that is covered by brave individuals willing to do whatever they can to bring stories to light.

The purpose is to simply provide a space—a month at a time, for those who have important and relevant projects to create—and to do so in an environment that will relieve them of the day to day challenges most artists face. Our goal is to provide an inspiring space for those veterans and individuals who have stories to tell and artistic projects to create.

PROGRAM LOGISTICS

The CJE House will host 3 veteran artists a year, during the most temperate months of the desert season: October, January and March. The residence will be dormant during the summer months which will be used to repair, refresh, maintain the property, fundraise and administer the logistics of hosting our residents.

Residents will have full private use of the house by themselves. The house includes a bedroom, bathroom, living room, kitchen, writing studio, art studio and a large outdoor covered porch with a 12-mile view of the beautiful Hi-Desert. House support staff will be near by in case the residents need any support or assistance.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

CJE House will host only individual artists. Families and guests are not invited. We’re happy to consider therapy pets. Any veteran—of all service levels—is welcome to apply. Application process will be simple—basic biographical information and a proposal of what work they intend to engage in during the residency. A sample of their work will be required. The residency and application process will cost them nothing.

We need your help.

There are many ways you can help our veterans and get involved in this important project:

Help us financially support the residence and our programs. The Hi-Desert Cultural Center is a 501(c)(3) organization and all donations are fully tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. (Federal Tax ID# 23-7425816)
Help us by volunteering and assisting in property renovations, enhancements, and/or landscaping.
Help us by sharing information about the program with your family and friends and follow us on FaceBook, Instagram and Twitter for updates about the CJE House.

Contact us at info@cjehouse.org and let us know how you want to help or get involved!

Donor Levels & Large Gift Naming Opportunities:

Donor LevelsLarge Gift Naming Opportunties

$25+ Our sincere appreciation and thanks on our forthcoming house website.

$100+ A gorgeous signed copy of a published play by writer, director and founder Charles Evered, whose father the house is named after. (Special thanks and courtesy of Broadway Play Publishing, Inc.)

$200+ A brick paver leading to our awesome wishing well with your—or your company’s name on it.

Sponsor any of the following and have your name, your family’s name or your company’s name permanently inscribed on a plaque designating the area in addition to CJE House printed literature:

$3,000 ASSORTED BENCHES — A bench located either on the porch or in the scenic garden area.

$5,000 RESIDENT HALLWAY — A distinct hallway that runs through the center of the house.

$5,000 KITCHEN — Newly remodeled!

$5,000 GARDEN STAIRWAY — A quaint little stairway in the front garden.

$5,000 WALKING BRIDGE — “Bridge of Encouragement” as part of the house’s “Inspiration Garden” for relaxation and meditation.

$7,000 UTILITY SHED — Outdoor structure housing tools, supplies, and seasonal items.

$8,000 TERRACE — A beautiful stone terrace overlooking the performance stage, with mile long views.

$8,000 GARDEN — The house’s “Inspiration Garden,” which will serve as an important relaxation and mediation space for our resident veteran artists.

$10,000 RESIDENT WRITING STUDIO — A room with a desk, bookshelves, and a great view.

$10,000 RESIDENT BEDROOM — with a walk-in closet and mile long views.

$15,000 ART STUDIO — We’ll be converting the garage into a large working art studio, complete with beautiful desert views, concrete floors and space to paint, sculpt and draw.

$20,000 STAGE — For this one time donation the PROPERTY STAGE will be named in your honor. We plan on having poetry readings, play readings, intimate concerts and all sorts of events on the stage.

Please click below to donate to the Charles J. Evered House. We thank you for your support!

The Mentor Board consists of highly successful and notable individuals who have agreed to volunteer their time to work with our CJE House residents, providing them with a few hours of companionship, inspiration and mentorship.

SCROLL FOR COMPLETE LIST
MILES ANDERSON — Olivier nominated actor, “House of Cards”
ANDREW AYLOR — Attorney, MGM Studios
ERIC BARR — Actor, Professor Emeritus, University of California-Riverside
ALAN A. CALL — Technical Director, Designer, Builder, University of California-Riverside
SCOTT COHEN — Award winning actor, director
CRAIG CARLISLE — Emmy winning television writer, actor
BILL CORBETT — Writer, Actor, “Mystery Science Theater,” “Rifftrax”
LAURENCE MAURICE DANIELS — Attorney, Office of Attorney General, California
PATRICK EVANS — Broadcaster CBS News/Entrepreneur
CHARLES EVERED — Founder, CJE House, Award winning Writer/Director, “Adopt a Sailor.” Professor, University of California – Riverside
JOSHUA FARDON — Actor, Playwright, Chicago Fire, The West Wing
DEBRA FERTADO — Writer, Translator, Gardening guru, Riverside, CA
STEPHEN FISCH — Producer, Executive, Fox and MGM. Retired Navy Captain, recipient Legion of Merit
JACQUELINE GAUL — Co-founder, Producer, Artist, Estee Lauder Companies
KIRK GEIGER — Actor, “Sordid Lives,” “An Actor’s Carol”
NOELLE GEIGER — Writer, Actress
PAMELA J. GRAY — Award winning actress, writer, “Law and Order,” “Sons of Anarchy”
ANTHONY GRIPPA, JR. — Writer/Director, “Running Funny,” “Half Brother”
SUSAN GURMAN — Theatrical agent, NYC
KEVIN SAUNDERS HAYES — Award winning musician and composer, “Vox Lumiere”
RICKERBY HINDS — Playwright/Screenwriter, NAACP Award winner, University of California – Riverside
CHRISTOPHER KNOBLOCK — Director/Cinematographer “House of Sticks.”
STU KRIEGER — Screenwriter, “The Land Before Time,” Professor, University of California – Riverside
SUSAN LIEBOWITZ — Journalist, Producer, Dateline NBC Los Angeles
HAL LINDEN — Emmy and Tony Award winning actor and musician
BELLA MERLIN — Award winning actor, musician, professor, University of California – Riverside
LOU MILIONE — DEA Agent, Department of Justice, former actor
CAMILLIA MONET — Producer, Actress, Esperanza Productions, Los Angeles
THOMAS J. OPLADEN — President, Yale Veteran’s Association
CHRIS PALMERI — Journalist, Bloomberg News Los Angeles
DIANE PAULUS — Tony winning director, artistic director, American Repertory Theater
AUSTIN PENDLETON — Award winning, Tony nominated director, actor, “My Cousin Vinny”
THAAO PENGHLIS — Emmy nominated actor, “Days of our Lives,” “Mission Impossible”
LUKE PERRY — Actor, Producer, “Beverly Hills 90210”
RAYMOND PINGLORA III — Entertainment CPA, MST, Van Duyne, Bruno and Co.
NOBLE A. POWELL — Award winning fine artist
JARROD RADNICH — Composer/Recording Artist, Disney/Universal/HBO/Musicnotes, 100+ million YouTube views, best selling author
JUSTIN RANDI — Business owner, (The Backed Potato, Los Angeles), musician
ANDREW ROGERS — Renown Australian land artist and sculpture, “Rhythm of Life”
ROBIN U. RUSSIN — Screenwriter On Deadly Ground, Professor, University of California – Riverside
ROBERT SABAL — Filmaker, Emerson College
LIEV SCHREIBER — Tony winning, Golden Globe and Emmy nominated actor, “Ray Donovan”
HOWARD SHANGRAW — Award winning Director/Actor. Artistic Director, Hi-Desert Playhouse
KAREN SPRINGER — Veterans and Military Affairs Members Group, UCR
DEANNE STILLMAN — Award winning writer,”Desert Reckoning,” “Mustang”
ANASTASIA TRAINA — Writer, Artist
KIM WALTRIP — Producer, “Hit and Run,” “Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby,” “Adopt a Sailor”
DANA WHITE — Writer/Director-actress, House of Sticks
WILLIAM WRUBEL — Emmy winning Writer/Producer, “Modern Family”
ROB ZWEMMER — Real Estate Agent, Philanthropist, La Quinta, CA