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Art of East Jesus Bottle Wall and entrance to Sculpture Garden Article and photography by Natasha Petrosova      There between the toxic waters of the Salton Sea and the active bombing range in the most  remote area of Slab City sits  East Jesus , a permanent artist community in the Colorado Desert  that features sculptures and installations. The late Charles Russell, radical thinker and art car  decorator, founded  East Jesus  in 2007 to create an inimitable establishment that would be both  a livable space and an art installation decorated from the inside out.   Financial difficulties prevented Russell from purchasing the land needed to create such a  venue, so he took his project to  Slab City , “The Last Free Place in America,” where he could  build without permits, create without boundaries, and live on the land freely (and for free). But  freedom comes at a price, as East Jesus is characterized by taxing s...

A Car entering Slab City Article and photography by Natasha Petrosova  The story of this town begins in 1942 when United States Navy department obtained 631 acres of desert land east of Niland at the western foot of Chocolate Mountain to use as a camp Dunlap Naval reservation .   In 1942  a military post was built as well as 30 -some buildings, swimming pool ,sewage collection and treatment system  and concrete fuel tanks.  The Marine Corps used camp Dunlap as a training center and 185.000 troops were trained there firing a heavy artillery.  After the war ended , the training ended.  Camp Dunlap was finally demolished in 1956 .  Marines picked up , removed all the buildings , the site was abandoned and all that was left were the foundations of concrete slabs , hence Slab City.      The land now belongs to  State of California.  The State tried to sell it in a past but without any luck. ...