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One of the main attractions that draws tourists to Slab City are the several art installations. The art installations range anywhere from quirky to strange to outright creepy. While they may seem abnormal at first, many of the art pieces share a meaningful message. Part of truly understanding the culture of Slab City is discovering the art within it.
There are four main art installations that represent the creative living of Slab City.
1. “The Last Free Place” painting
When driving into Slab City, you will pass by a cement block that says “Welcome to Slab City”. On the other side of it, facing the road, you will discover a red, white, and blue painting claiming “the last free place”. This may seem like a simple painting, but it embodies the sentiment of Slab City. The city is known as the last free place, because it is essentially lawless. It is an unincorporated, squatter city without any type of police presence. This means that it could be dangerous, but it also means that the residents have freedom from the grips and expectations of society. The freedom of Slab City is what appeals to both the residents and tourists.
Salvation Mountain
Salvation Mountain is the primary tourist attraction of Slab City. It is often the only reason that people visit the city in the first place. Salvation Mountain is a man-made mountain created by Leonard Knight, a former resident of Slab City. While the masterpiece itself is incredible, the story behind it is what embodies the spirit of Slab City.
Leonard Knight started the journey of trying to spread his message that “God is Love” back in 1967 by word of mouth. People did not receive his message well. In 1980, Knight decided to try to spread his message via hot air balloon. His goal was to hand-make the largest hot air balloon in the world with the words “God is Love” on it. With the large size, the balloon wouldn’t inflate.
In 1984, after another failed attempt, he moved on from the dream of a hot air balloon to building a small monument near Slab City. What was only supposed to be a short-term project turned into four years of work. After four years, the 50-foot mountain collapsed due to too much sand used in the building of it. In 1989, Knight began to build his second mountain (this time with clay and straw). He continued working on the mountain until 2011 when he no longer had the physical ability to do so. His work is now an incredible tourist site known as Salvation Mountain.
This story taught me two key lessons:
1. Never, ever give up! Look at what Leonard Knight’s dedication turned into.
2. You learn to appreciate something a lot more when you know the story behind it.
Knight’s story and dedication are worth appreciating!
Knight passed away in 2014, leaving Salvation Mountain Inc., a nonprofit organization, to ensure the conservation and protection of the mountain. To learn more or make a donation to help preserve this masterpiece, you can visit their website here.
TV wall
One of my favorite art installations consists of televisions painted with different phrases that speak to the way that modern-day media brainwashes society. The televisions shared messages like “Bow before your Gods” or “Real women need a man.” This installation struck a chord in me and left me contemplating the current circumstances of society. I guess that’s the purpose of the art though, right? It aims to make the admirer interpret the message and reflect on it.
The TV Wall presents its message loud and clear. It sheds light on the type of influence that the media has on society. It reveals the evil of the media and the negativity that it instills in its consumers.
The TV wall, along with several other art installations, can be found in the East Jesus gallery of Slab City.
Black Lives Matter installation
Another art piece found in the East Jesus gallery is the Black Lives Matter installation. Coming across this installation gave me chills. Not only did the artist say their names but wrote them in a way that would be shared with all the tourists that venture to East Jesus gallery.
The installation shows that even residents who are far removed from the rest of society recognize the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement.
It also goes to show that the art installations remain up to date. With names like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many more, it shows that the art stays updated. East Jesus is not a junk yard filled with old art but a gallery that is continuously added to. It acts as a creative outlet for the residents of Slab city and as a display for admirers from around the world.
The art of Slab City is one of the city’s most defining characteristics. It is what intrigues a lot of people to the city. It is a matter of looking past the eclectic form to discover the message and meaning behind it.
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