Opera, in the desert? Welcome to Amargosa Opera House . . . and the dream of Marta Becket. The New York ballerina parlayed a flat tire in a ghost town south of Death Valley, CA, into dancing, performing and painting, regardless of audience (or lack of, in this case). Her solution? Paint her little theater with its own gallery. And visitors have been charmed for close to 50 years.
Elizabeth Pomazal, alto, performs one evening in April in Marta's dream theater.
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Three people officially live in Death Valley Junction, as did Marta until she died in January. Her art lives on through a non-profit foundation. Ballet and opera performances still run.
Her fierce, independent focus, and what she created here, resonate with the artist in me. She made art for art's sake, regardless of the world's view. I know that compulsion. She had the guts to reinvent herself in the second half of life, and to take that leap where only ghosts and dust reigned. I admire that. In my case, I'm using my travels to define myself anew. Both ways work. Click on the images in the gallery below to expand them.
What could be better after a few dusty days dry camping near the junction than a soak (or two!) at Tecopa Hot Springs? $7 for 24 hour access. Ahhh.
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Why the move from Arizona to Nevada? It's a nice central location. I can slip up the coast for the ride of a lifetime this summer: Highway 101 -- and I can't wait! I can see my new twin grand nieces in Carlsbad. And it's easy access to sisters in Arizona and Mexico. Not to mention a nice climate, plenty of free parking, no state income tax, and it's friendly to RV travelers (sort of).
Officially, there's no such thing as a person who travels full time in this land of the free. You MUST have a permanent domicile. So, mine will be in Nevada. Here are some desert shots along the way. |
WHO
Metaphysician. Vegan chef. Jewelry artist. Writer. Star gazer. Seeker of hot springs. And now, wonderluster. Meet Mary.
WHAT
1995 was a good year. They made this 21-foot Chinook RV, now my home as I wonder in what writer Ellen Maloy described as, " . . . attention to the radiance, a rise to the full chase of beauty."
WHY
Nature + travel. Why do they inspire us so? I believe we discover -- and connect -- to our deepest selves in those spaces of beauty. Despite what separates us (politics, geography, philosophies), the stories and photographs here show our world as connected and whole. Imagine the finest fabric, woven in never-ending creation, on the loom of the universe.
I will meet you there. WHERE
Current location: Lake Superior.
WHEN
There's no time like the present. Actually, now is a pretty cool space to hang out. Yet another reason to join me on my travels.
ARCHIVES
February 2019
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Copyright © 2018, 2019 by Mary Gardner. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this website, including photographs, may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the owner. For permission requests, write to the owner here:
Mary Gardner, 1970 N. Leslie St., #559, Pahrump, NV 89060.
No part of this website, including photographs, may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the owner. For permission requests, write to the owner here:
Mary Gardner, 1970 N. Leslie St., #559, Pahrump, NV 89060.