in 2009 i traveled to SALVATION MOUNTAIN in the south desert region of california near slab city, niland + not too far from the salton sea . it’s the kind of place you go when you don’t want to be found . a group of us drove down there for a shoot + were honored to have the opportunity to meet LEONARD KNIGHT, creator of the famed mountain, + folk art monument .
he formed the massive sculpture by covering bales of hay + dirt with concrete + paint . decades on it rose high in the sky, covered with bible verses conveying the message of universal love .
sadly, LEONARD died this week, but his beautiful gift to us all lives on .

we stopped in slab city for lunch + met some kind souls.

you will be missed, LEONARD.

came across these SALTON SEA settlers while taking a break from shooting for a july ’09 spread .
LEONARD, the creator of the monument to universal love (see last link) .
BILLY, the one thumbed, one lunged, gold panning vietnam vet .
bill slab city x noavithe next generation of the desert.

the gang posted up:
looking for new angles on SALVATION MOUNTAIN