January 11, 2022 Slab City, California

 74 and sunny.

The area south of Salton Sea is mostly farming and a bunch of geothermal power plants. We went to see Slab City, which is an unincorporated, off the grid, alternative lifestyle community consisting they say of mostly snowbirds. We didn't see any snow birds. There are no rules. Lots of 'art' made from recycled junk. It is known for attracting people who want to live outside main stream society. There is a legitimate campground and a hostel that didn't look too bad. East Jesus is a privately owned

Salvation Mountain is a folk art piece created by Leonard Knight starting in 1984. It is built of adobe mud and donated paint. It is Leonard's tribute to God and his gift to the world with it's simple powerful message- God is Love. From it's sea of Galilee. a big read heart in the middle to the cross at the top is 50 feet high and 150 feet wide. There is religious scripture such as the Lords Prayer, John 3:16 and the sinners prayer, but also flowers, trees, waterfalls, suns,  blue birds. All in very bright colors.  Before Leonard died in 2014 he created an organization to maintain and preserve the mountain and care for the mountains cats. 

Mostly what we saw at Slab city were broken down trailers, tarps, tires, pallets and lots of art made from recycled junk and lots of trash. These metal horse statues are part of an exhibit of metal sculptures scattered around Borrego springs. The rest of this is from the East Jesus sculpture garden in  Slab  City, Charlie of the first church of Chocolate Martin. I. Make good things, II. Do big fun, III. Get more laid IV.  Rise and infect, The difference between a garden and a graveyard is what you choose to bury, an alien painted on a VW hood, a sculpture made of a bike tire, spoons and a a gnome. A garden made from bottles, dishes etc. 

Two art pieces made from old shoes, one with dead trees and the other is a peace sign. Chateau Relaxo.

Signs from around Slab City. I liked the Slab City Cat rescue and sanctuary plus one sidewinder. The entrance to East Jesus sculpture park. It says it is registered art gallery in Imperial County.

A tower surrounded by goose and duck decoys with a chandelier of goose decoy heads. A sign saying pick up the broken pieces and fly. A digital door lock with a keyboard, The alien on a VW car hood again, the dark side, don't run out of gass and the East Jesus Daycare. 

For some reason I liked the Cry Baby  Buick which is covered with Barbie dolls. Many interesting fence materials. Hay bales, a wall of TV's painted with sayings, two different tire fences, cool walls of adobe mud and wine bottles and one made with bed box springs. 

John's favorite place, the Church of Beer. Driving down the main drag in Borrego Springs, a lovely town in the middle of Anza Borrego State Park.

I spent the rest of the day by the pool working on my basket. The basket is finished. It is 7 x 6 x 3 inches made with dyed pine  needles, polyester thread, glass beads and gemstone bears. The center is a coin with bears on it that says Yellowstone National park set in resin. 

Sunset in the campground.