Features 3
MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2014
Salvation Mountain creator passes away Palm Springs Air
Museum ranks among the best
DENNIS EBACHER/CONJURE-PHOTOGRAPHY Leonard Knight, at Salvation Mountain. He worked on his creation since the early 80’s
BY JONATHAN MORENO
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Folk-artist Leonard Knight passed away on Monday, February 10 at the age of 82. Knight is known for his colorful creation named Salvation Mountain. The work of art is located in Niland, California about 74 miles east of COD. The mountain represents Knight's dedication and devotion to promote his love for Christ. He lived on the site in his truck and worked on the mountain from the early 80’s until he was no longer able to, due to diabetes and old age. His declining health had forced him to become a resident at a convalescent home. The mountain was maintained by volunteers in order to preserve his life's work. The volunteers mix hay and clay, re-paint the mountain
and keep the installation clean. Knight was born on November 1, 1931 in Shelburne Falls, Vermont, where he lived on a family farm. At the age of 20, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Upon his discharge from the Army, he returned to Vermont and started to work in a series of different jobs that included painting cars and teaching guitar. In 1967, while visiting his sister in San Diego, Knight’s life was changed when he found himself repeating the Sinner Prayer, a prayer used by individuals seeking a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. He accepted Jesus Christ into his life and would ultimately live his life serving Jesus. From that day on, he has exhibited his love for Christ. Knight began to spread the "message of God" through his use of a hot air balloon. He made his
own hot air balloon with the message “God is Love.” Eventually the balloon became too much for him to manage. The base of the 50 ft mountain is painted with a depiction of the Sea of Galilee and the mountain is full of vibrant colors with the message “God is love” and the Sinner Prayer is at the center. Knight created adobe filled structures without having any prior knowledge or formal training in painting. It is estimated that over 100,000 gallons of paint have been used on the mountain. Knight passed away at Eldorado Care Center in El Cajon, California. His life and his art work has been a fixture in the folk-art community. Tourists from around the world have visited Niland to view his work. Salvation Mountain will continue to spread Knight’s love for God.
TINA MUNOZ/THE CHAPARRAL DC-3 aircraft was the first commercial airliner to make air travel affordable for average Americans
BY TINA MUNOZ
OPINION EDITOR
The Palm Springs Air Museum has been named one of the world’s 14 Best Aviation Museums by CNN Travel. The Museum is a non-profit educational institution, home to one of the largest collections of flyable World War II aircrafts. A museum with “no ropes” as CNN Travel puts it. The Museum opened on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 1996 with approximately 5,000 visitors filling the 50,000 sq. ft. facility. It all began with the collective imaginations of Charlie Mayer, Bill Byrne, Pete Madison, and Dr. Mort Gubin. As the story goes, Mayer and Byrne were outside talking in late 1993, when a P-51 flew above them. They instinctively asked the question “Why not have an air museum featuring World War II warbirds, right here in Palm Springs?” Madison, a former P-38 pilot who was later pulled in on the project contacted his friend Robert Pond, who was known as an active collector and rebuilder of warbirds along with classic cars. The idea was brought to the Palm Springs City Council, who fully backed it, and the organizational certificate was dated January 5, 1994. Ten acres of land were acquired and construction began on February 15, 1996, and as they say, ‘the rest is history.’ The museum consists of 27 flyable warbirds, a classic car collection, a B-17 bomber, the Buddy Rogers Theater, flight simulators, a “Kool Kids” Activity Center, a WWII Educational Resource Library, pilot shop, a Java Joe’s coffee shop and the Our Freedom Fighter Cafe. “Out of 300 museums in the United States, we were chosen. Being the smallest on the list and the only non-government owned as well, it’s pretty exciting,” said Fred Bell, Managing Director. Above the door of the entrance sits a half scale model of the Wright Brothers' very first plane. Directly across is a mural of the Battle of Midway, hand painted by Stan Stokes, the in-house artist. According to Dell Morgan, a volunteer, Stokes worked on the piece in midsummer 1996, before the doors of the museum were even put in. In the Phillips Hangar sits a B17 (B- Bomber, 17--17th new bomber designed and manufactured specifically for the U.S. Army Air Force) high altitude long range bomber, from the collection of Robert Pond. The bomber itself is open to tours which are given by veterans. The
bomber was used by the Air Corps and Navy as well as the British Royal Air Force, but notably in the Pacific, helping to secure New Guinea. Its greatest victory was when it was flown over Europe with Nazi Germany as its target, bombing anything and everything connected with the Germans. "We are a living history museum, and it's not uncommon for visitors to speak to someone who flew one of our aircraft in either Korea or Vietnam," Bell continued. "We love to bring in temporary exhibits...our fleet of aircraft is not static, and there are no ropes to prevent visitors from getting up close," says managing director Fred Bell. The Cravens Hangar holds everything from the war in the pacific, warship row, including the USS The Sullivans to the USS Rasher, Bob Hope memorabilia, surrender documents, and a breakdown of Pearl Harbor events. The European Hangar also features equipment used in the war in Europe, Women at War, Flying Tigers, combat cameramen, WWII medals, and the limousine that was built for the Japanese Consulate in San Francisco. The Fairchild Aircraft, a United States Air Force combat cargo unit also known as The Flying Boxcar sits in between the European and Pacific hangars. It saw extensive action in the Korean war, as a troop and equipment transport. Needing a crew of 5, but with a holding capacity of 62 troops or 35 stretchers, the Fairchild was a force to be reckoned with, having a maximum speed of 296 mph. The museum is also linked to the Library of Congress with interviews with veterans of war. An 8,700 volume library, consisting of movies, journals, books, magazines, maps, and every Life magazine ever printed, including an 800-volume collection of books devoted to the China-BurmaIndia Theater of Operations during World War II. Flight simulators are also in the library, where Bob Andrade, a flying tigers historian, will coach visitors on how to work the simulators. The Museum in general is open to cameras and even pets are welcome as long as they are on a leash. A storage room holds several wheelchairs as well as walkers. “We know the museum is quite a walk, so we provide anything you might need to help you get around easier” said Morgan. The gift shop is full of merchandise, from pilot wear to a bullet key chain. The Museum is open 7 days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.