Leonard Knight, the creator of the magnificent Salvation Mountain near the Salton Sea, passed away several days before Valentine’s Day. We visited this visionary artist 10 years ago and snapped this shot that captures his love of life.

He embodies the religious style of ephemeral imagery & graphic art created by folk & street artists all across the USA. These works show up on almost anything–from the sides of trailers, storefronts & windows to the junkyard landscape of the late W.C. Rice’s Cross Garden in Prattville, Alabama.  The homegrown art in unsuspecting environments often speaks louder than the godly messages– for us it’s more about the art.

Check out more images at  stripeycity or take a sightseeing trip around your own neighborhood and see what you might find!