🖋️ Art Review: “Buster’s Pool Party”
By Renata Feldspar, Senior Critic at The Desert Register
Forget what you thought you knew about Palm Springs soirées. Buster’s Pool Party is not a scene—it’s a ceremony. Under the watchful eye of a full desert moon, Terry Hastings conjures a visual symphony of floating bodies, rhythmic communion, and canine leadership.
Front and center is Buster, the wire-haired terrier whose presence anchors the entire composition. He is not merely a guest—he is the host, the oracle, the keeper of poolside peace. Around him, a cast of stylized figures lounge, drift, and now, with the arrival of the drum circle, begin to pulse.
Yes, the drum circle has arrived. Hastings paints them not as caricature but as catalysts—bringing rhythm to the stillness, moonlight to the leisure. Their presence shifts the tone from passive to participatory. This is no longer just a party; it’s a ritual. A lunar rite of memory, music, and mild hydration.
The Critics Circle remains, but they’ve put down their notebooks and picked up tambourines. Even Renata, famously rhythm-averse, admits to swaying. “It’s the moon,” she says. “It’s always the moon.”
What makes this piece sing is its layered invitation: come float, come listen, come join the beat. And above all, come honor Buster, whose quiet authority reminds us that every good party needs a dog, a moon, and a little percussion.
 
This stunning photo/graphic is a masterpiece created by renowned photographer Terry Hastings. Inspired by the cut outs of Henri Matisse, Terry starts with photosgraphs of his models in action, cuts them out in photoshop, turns them a solid color and scratches in a few key details.  The piece  is playful and beautiful.
 
This work is offered as a 20x40, 30x60 or 40x80 inch print. Please inquire about other sizes. 
The work is titled, numbered, a limited edition of 10, and signed by the artist.
 
The photo is shipped in a double tube for safety.
Please allow 5 - 7 days for production and shipping.