Salvation Mountain - Leonard Knight's vision on the desert

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Salvation Mountain - Niland, California Salvation Mountain is actually an amazing labor of love created out in the California Desert. Folk art visionary Leonard Knight decided he needed to express his religious feelings in a big way. He has painted this small mountain (in a place called "Slab City") outside the town of Niland, California, which is located near the Salton Sea.	Salvation Mountain's creator, Leonard Knight shows a placard from the Folk Art Society of America. Click on these thumbnail images to see a larger picture. Most larger images are 40-100K in size.
In May 2001, I had visited the Salton Sea. While there, I had been urged to see Salvation Mountain, since it was so close by (only a half hour's drive). Following instructions friends gave me, I found Slab City out in the middle of nowhere, a few minutes from Niland. But I could see Slab City coming up ahead on the road - you can't miss Salvation Mountain! I got out of my car, and started taking pictures of Salvation Mountain. I didn't see anyone around at first. But then I saw Leonard Knight working on the Mountain, using what appeared to be some sort of farm equipment. Apparently that's what Leonard does all the time. He gets donations of acrylic paint and other supplies, and is always adding, adjusting, and "touching up" the Mountain. He is a marvel. A true folk artist. His labor of love has been compared to the Watts Towers, and other such famous folk art landmarks.
Another detail of the main part of Salvation Mountain.	Salvation Mountain! In the foreground you can see paint cans and other evidence of ongoing work.

Leonard's mailbox. Every object in this place has been adorned with acrylic paint!	Interior of one of the adobe structures Leonard built. Every inch of it is covered with paint and embellishments!
"Self-Made Worlds : Visionary Folk Art Environments" (featuring Salvation Mountain) is available at Amazon.com Go to next Salvation Mountain Page >> Please note: Many of these pictures are digitally watermarked. Any unathorized use of these photos is not permitted, and will be detected by me! Feel free to use any of these images as wallpaper for your computer, but please note that these photos are also available as stock photography. Please read my terms of use page for more details! Back to Top
All images and graphics © J.R. Dunster 2001 - 2006 This page last updated: September 20, 2006	Much thanks to W. Thompson, for the design of my email graphic!
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