Salvation Mountain

This outsider art masterpiece was the one and only bright spot to my Salton Sea visit.  A 50 ft. high mountain built with clay and painted with bright primary colors, it can be seen nearly a mile away.

It is the creation of artist Leonard Knight who found Jesus late in life and dedicated years and years to getting the simple message that "God is Love" to anybody who wandered by and wander by they did.  When we were there a week ago, hundreds of other pilgrims had also managed to find the road outside of Niland to end up at this strange and whimsical altar.  We climbed the yellow path to the top.  We took pictures.  Read all the biblical passages.  Shook our heads in wonder.  We left, a little sad, learning that the 80-year-old artist was in a home and would probably never return to his beloved mountain again.

Museum Interior

Such massive folk art installations are quirky, utterly individualistic, and therefore, short-lived.  Salvation Mountain, as you see from the above sign, is indeed worthy of protection and preservation.  Friends of the artist, as well as volunteers, are doing their best to maintain it, but it is a never-ending task.  All paint is donated and hundreds of cans clutter the site.  Salvation Mountain was born out of a passion from one man.  It is his and his alone, and as much as we love it and wish that it will last forever, it won't.  I urge everyone who loves folk art to make the effort to see this amazing place.  But go now!