i have been espousing the wonders of amargosa and marta becket for years… but for those of you who have yet to hear my diatribe- all i can say is… it is an opera house in the middle of death valley junction, population- less than 20 , and home to marta beckett- 82 year old artist, dancer, and actress… she still performs, and you can visit (during the cooler months)… marta painted an audience on the walls of the theatre- there is so much poetry in her story that it is hard to sum up here, but you can purchase her book- or visit her website.

also. for a whole other type of inspiration, or maybe it is the same type… if you visit death valley junction, make sure to wander off and snoop through some of the abandoned trailers and homes. really. there is theatre all around…

image of abandoned space. death valley. flickr image.