It is a little hot in the Colorado desert at the moment but if you are looking for a special treat off the beaten sightseeing path you might still consider to head south from Los Angeles and visit the artistic enclave of East Jesus. It is part of the improvised camp ground Slab City, self proclaimed "last free place of America". There is no water, no power, no city hall, just one rule: do not piss off your neighbors!

East Jesus is an inspiring, sometimes magical place to discover art and your inner artist. Walk through the sculpture garden admiring a mammoth made of blown up tires, a wall of discarded TVs and more objets made entirely of recycled material found in the desert.

Flip Cassidy, photographer, musician, sculptor and regular resident of East Jesus explains what this "experimental, habitable, extensible artwork in progress" is about. 

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Don't get disouraged by the Online East Jesus Survival Guide! "Why do you even want to come and bother us in the first place?" they ask in their first paragraph. Their most important rule: DO NOT PISS US OFF. But this is just to scare the weak at heart off. Not you!

Once you arrive, show respect, bring cold drinks and some unperishible food to share and you will be welome, encouraged to look around and become creative yourself. East Jesus residents will share their music room including a Grand Piano, their food, drinks and joints. You might even get a bed in one of their campers. I can only recommend to  sleep on one of the couches in their outdoor living room or another spot with nothing between you and the starlit sky.

[Story about East Jesus for German public radio] 

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