East Jesus

 open air museum  Add category

East Jesus is an art facility that displays pieces made mostly of recycled materials and is the only permanent art institution in the Imperial Valley. Located in the area known as Slab City, East Jesus residents and offsite members provide shelter for artists, musicians, survivalists, writers, scientists, and other wandering geniuses. Charlie Russel (the founder of East Jesus) initially came to slab city to work with Leonard Knight and his Salvation Mountain but as Leonard and many others he fell in love with the area. In 2007 Charlie left his tech job, packed all his belongings into a shipping container, and began to surround his two art cars with the sculptures that would become the basis of East Jesus. Unfortunately, Charlie passed away in 2011, but a board of directors has guided the curation and expansion of East Jesus, honoring his vision of a sustainable, habitable, ever-changing art installation. Today East Jesus is open and free to the public, sunrise to sunset, 365 days a year with available private tours if previously scheduled.

eastjesus.org/