Salvation Mountain

Salvation Mountain
2008 photo
ArtistLeonard Knight
Coordinates33°15′15″N 115°28′21″W / 33.25417°N 115.47250°W / 33.25417; -115.47250
Websitesalvationmountain.org
Salvation Mountain at the LOVE IS UNIVERSAL area; 2008 photo

Salvation Mountain is a hillside visionary environment created by local resident Leonard Knight (1931–2014) in the California Desert area of Imperial County, north of Calipatria, northeast of Niland, near the Slab City squatter/art commune,[1] and several miles from the Salton Sea.

The artwork is made of adobe bricks, discarded tires and windows, automobile parts and thousands of gallons of paint.[2] It encompasses numerous murals and areas painted with Christian sayings and Bible verses, though its philosophy was built around the Sinner's Prayer.[3]

The Folk Art Society of America declared it "a folk art site worthy of preservation and protection"[4] in the year 2000. In an address to the United States Congress on May 15, 2002, California Senator Barbara Boxer described it as "a unique and visionary sculpture... a national treasure... profoundly strange and beautifully accessible, and worthy of the international acclaim it receives".[5]

In December 2011, the 80-year-old Knight was placed in a long-term care facility in El Cajon for dementia.[6] Leonard Knight died on February 10, 2014, in El Cajon.[7] He was able to visit Salvation Mountain for the last time in May 2013;[8] the visit was recorded by KPBS (TV).[9]

Concern was raised in 2012 for the future of the site, which requires constant upkeep due to the harsh desert environment. Many visitors were donating paint to the project, and a group of volunteers worked to protect and maintain the site.[10][11] In February 2011, a public charity, Salvation Mountain, Inc. was established to support the project.[12] In 2013, the Annenberg Foundation donated $32,000 to Salvation Mountain Inc. for materials and equipment to "improve security and strengthen operations". A 2014 article stated that Salvation Mountain Inc. was operated by the nine volunteer members of its board.[13]

  1. ^ Barragan, Bianca (March 13, 2015). "Off-the-Grid Desert Squatter Town Considers Going Legit". Curbed LA. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference auto3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Tony, Perry. "Salvation Mountain is missing its guiding spirit". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  4. ^ Larry Yust. "The Interactive Mountain of Leonard Knight" Archived August 8, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, "Folk Art Society of America"
  5. ^ Barbara Boxer. "Leonard Knight and Salvation Mountain" Archived October 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, 107th Congress, 2nd Session Issue: Vol. 148, No. 62
  6. ^ The Desert Sun: Leonard Knight, father of Salvation Mountain, dies" accessed 2 November 2014.
  7. ^ L.A. Observed: "Leonard Knight, desert creator of Salvation Mountain was 82" Archived February 17, 2014, at the Wayback Machine . accessed 2 November 2014.
  8. ^ Carone, Angela (February 11, 2014). "Leonard Knight, Creator of Salvation Mountain, Dies At 82". KPBS Public Media. Archived from the original on July 11, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  9. ^ "Leonard Knight Returns to Salvation Mountain". Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020 – via www.youtube.com.
  10. ^ "The Future Of Salvation Mountain Uncertain". KPBS.org. December 20, 2011. Archived from the original on June 27, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  11. ^ Honore, Marcel (August 12, 2012). "Who will save Salvation Mountain?". The Desert Sun. Palm Springs, CA. ProQuest 1035031043. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  12. ^ Organizational Profile Archived January 7, 2015, at the Wayback Machine – National Center for Charitable Statistics (Urban Institute)
  13. ^ Lieu, Lynn. "Salvation Mountain Inc. continues Leonard Knight's vision". The Desert Sun. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2020.