The Cars of East Jesus

A photo essay on art cars in the California desert

Welcome to East Jesus, California

Story and photos by Jim Shubin

Out past Slab City, California, on the east side of the Salton Sea, a compound called East Jesus* has been home to desert art since 2006. I was intrigued by the art there and focused on these beauties…

*The name East Jesus has no religious significance; East Jesus is sometimes used to describe a place in the middle of nowhere.

I found myself chuckling at the humor of this piece.

The detail and use of various materials is amazing. Apparently, there’s plenty of time to make art out here in the desert.

Charlie Russell, the founder of East Jesus, brought his 1971 Volkswagon Camper Bus, the “Cinnabar Charm” along with him. It still has a place of honor in the East Jesus Sculpture Garden.

Mating Bugs in the heat of the desert.

Volkswagon Bugs are well represented.

Imagine seeing this dragon car on the freeway!

Puppies, a shark, and livestock populate these little islands swimming in a sea of beads.

The Barbie Car below was one of my favorites. It looks like there’s suntanning on the hood and it’s party time everywhere else!

This is just a small sampling of the art in East Jesus. It’s totally worth the long drive from Palm Springs — if you’re near the Salton Sea, be sure to stop by and see these rusty desert beauties.

Also see these other stories about visting the western desert lands published in BATW’s Stories of Travel, Culture, and the World:

Art in the California Desert by Laurie McAndish King

10,000-year-old Art Galleries by Diane Lebow

Las Vegas Outside the Box by Erin Deinzer

Jarbidge: Far-Out in Nevada by April Orcutt

Death Valley Meditation by Lee Daley

Viewing a Super Bloom in California’s Serengeti by David A. Laws