Media Archive
2024
How can we preserve an art environment after its maker is no longer around to maintain it? What does the process of preservation look like? How can communities support local art environments?
2023
The folk art monument in the desert near the Salton Sea grapples with extreme weather, social-media-fueled tourism and its own tattering beauty.
2023
Film by Andrew Norbeck (2022) with archive footage from Greg Durbin and Sherman George (1986-1992).
Book by Leonard Knight with photography by Larry Yust.
2023
Leonard Knight was on his way to the west coast in the mid-1980s when his van broke down on Interstate 80 near Shelton. He intended to stay for four hours, but his impromptu visit lasted four years.
2023
Leonard Knight was on his way to the west coast in the mid-1980s when his van broke down on Interstate 80 near Shelton. He intended to stay for three hours, but his impromptu visit lasted three years.
2012
A woman searches for a deeper understanding of the myth behind Leonard Knight; the creator of the folk monument Salvation Mountain.
2018
Here are a few visual highlights from Salvation Mountain, a popular roadside attraction located in the desert around the Salton Sea near Niland, California.
2018
Deep in the Sonoran Desert of California stands one man’s elaborate tribute to God.
1989
This clip documents our first meeting with Leonard Knight. In the clip he talks about his ideas for creating Salvation Mountain and how long he works each day. He is 57 years old and hard at work on his first mountain in this interview. In this clip we see Leonard discuss his relationship with the other folks at the Slabs. Leonard also told us about his early creations including his hot-air balloon and how he prayed before creating his mountain. Shows him at work on his first mountain (hand held camera); Also Leonard with wheelbarrow and his problems at Slab City; his time at the High-Line Cafe. He describes and demonstrates his technique for building Salvation Mountain.
1997
From about 1986 to 1992, videographers Sherman George and Greg Durbin shot footage of Slab City and Salvation Mountain for an unrealized documentary. Included are extensive interviews with residents, various community activities such as swap meets, holiday parties, etc. and many shots of the surrounding desert landscape.
1999
Folk Art Messenger, Magazine [#47] Vol. 12, No. 3, Summer 1999. “The Interactive Mountain of Leonard Knight” by Larry Yust.
On permanent display at American Visionary Art Museum | 800 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410.244.1900
Love Balloon on display at American Visionary Art Museum | 800 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410.244.1900
Profile and timeline of Leonard’s life and art.
2024
The Late Leonard Knight’s Creation Has Been Given a Designation by the County of Imperial That Could Help With Preservation, Restoration Efforts.
2021
Group Gets Imperial County’s Support to Start Negotiations with Land Commission to Buy Area Around Art Installation
2023
Salvation Mountain, created by Leonard Knight, has been featured in movies like “Into the Wild,” as seen Dec. 29, 2022, near Niland, Calif.
2023
2022
A model of Salvation Mountain that has its entire main surface made from those 2009 images showing Leonard’s original brushstrokes and color and includes all surrounding areas merged from 2022 drone scans.
2024
Click and drag to explore Salvation Mountain and Slab City.
2020
A short trip into Salvation Mountain, an epic location situated in located in the lower desert of Southern California.
1994
Leonard at a Slab City talent show, 1994. Compliments of da Handyman.
