NINA K
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Nothing in the Desert

A stone obelisk stood by itself on S2 between the Yuha Desert and the Anza Borrego Desert in California. The plaque had been stolen. I had been doing a lot of hiking in that area and noticed that there were two kinds of travelers (alright maybe more). The ones that kept looking out the window, maps aflutter, hoping to find a town with a gift shop because clearly there was nothing else to see at that moment. Or, the ones that brought heavy 'toys' and drive over everything. They aren't hurting anything, because there was nothing out here in the desert.

I decided to make a new plaque that was of plaster, rendering it undesirable for stealing. Plainly it said
"This is the desert. Theres nothing out here. Nothing.
N. Karavasiles"

It became a hit, surprisingly. This unsanctioned piece was sited in Diana Lindsay's book 'Anza Borrego A to Z' https://sunbeltpublications.com/, it was a place where geologists met, and for some time now the area is surrounded by an INS station.

It was so popular, that when the plaster cracked, people insisted I maintain it!  A new plaque went in, but this time made of concrete.

I feel like a celebrity when I go through the check point.

Email: [email protected]

  • Home
  • Art
    • Public Art >
      • Seated in History >
        • Boy Scouts #1 at 201
        • Refugees, Vietnam
        • Bertha and what I didn't know
        • The Collages
        • Mausoleum extra
        • The Native American Contribution
        • Ted Williams in Seated in History
        • making a plaque
        • Texts in the panel above the bench
      • Climate River
      • Coronado Seniors
      • Colfax Ave. Bridge
      • Terrain Art
      • Nothing in the Desert
      • Signifire
      • Orange Villas
      • 70th St. Trolley Station
      • Crying Wolf
      • Recipe for Friendship
      • Solara
      • Awards
      • Talmadge Apartments
      • Bench Marks
      • Mayberry Townhomes
      • Parkside Apartments
      • Iowa Street Seniors
      • A San Diego African American Legacy
      • COMM22
      • Mission Cove
      • Social Circles
      • Rosa Parks Memorial Transit
      • Paradise Creek
      • Saline for Insite
      • SMart San Luis Rey Mission
      • A-Where-Ness
      • Los Vecinos
      • Articles
    • Studio Art >
      • MS collages
      • Gang of 5 Reconnecting
      • Pull Down
      • California Center for the Arts, Escondido
      • Divisible at Spruce St. Forum
      • Up/Down
      • Circa 9 Exhibit
      • Mono-pours
      • Sort of Studio
      • Trust
      • Felt pieces
      • Design/Architecture >
        • Family Room revamp
        • cork topped vases
  • Classes
    • List of classes
    • Direct Nature Sketchbooking
    • Clay Play, Take Time class
    • Chaparral Book Making
    • Collage Class
    • How to Make a Salad
    • Charcuterie
    • Support book class
  • Warner Springs
    • Trail Fest 2025
    • Trail Fest 2024 >
      • Overnight accomodations
      • Vineyards local
    • Cultivate and Celebrate
    • StarWatch Oct 2024
    • Gardening Class Warner Springs >
      • Cultivate and Celebrate
  • Alzheimer's
  • Stance Studios
  • Journal Blog
  • Art Map
  • DONATE
  • About
  • Gang of Five
  • Eye Chanting
  • Public Address