After 31 years of visiting and then living in Las Vegas, Brad and I are a bit jaded on the subject of “Vegas Sights” – been there seen that! But this week we were surprisingly awed by a relatively new in-my-opinion-must-see Vegas attraction.
We didn’t immediately think a fluorescent “Stonehenge” in the middle of a barren desert was worth a 10-mile ride down south Las Vegas Boulevard, way beyond civilization that ends at the M Resort. But, as usual, with family in town, we were looking for new sightseeing adventures, so off we drove to see “Seven Magic Mountains.”
When these colorful columns appeared in the horizon, such a contrast to the dull desolate desert landscape, it was a moment of astonishment and amazement for all of us. We had seen pictures of this, but they couldn’t capture the real-life intense effect. Both my daughter Angela and granddaughter Kaitlynn are avid photographers. In fact, Kaitlynn is beginning in the fall her master’s program in Video Production. So they couldn’t wait to begin their shooting.
It is just a very short walk from the primitive parking lot to the actual columns so you can not only enjoy the longer-distance full view of the installation, but you can get up close and personal to it – hug a column if you wish. The temperature was 110 degrees this afternoon we were there, with the sun so bright even our sunglasses didn’t keep us from squinting in most of the pictures. And Brad posed for just a couple of minutes and then tromped back to the car and turned on the air-conditioner to wait for the rest of us.
Jean and Brad – Above
Grandma Jean and Granddaughter Kaitlynn – Below
Later, when Kaitlynn has time to work on the video she shot, I will post that, which will describe “the rest of the story,” which includes venomous rattlesnakes.
Internationally renowned Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone’s Seven Magic Mountains is a large-scale site-specific public art installation located near Jean Dry Lake and Interstate 15, approximately ten miles south of Las Vegas, Nevada. Comprised of seven towers of colorful, stacked boulders standing more than thirty feet high, Seven Magic Mountains is situated within the Ivanpah Valley adjacent to Sheep Mountain and the McCullough, Bird Spring, and Goodsprings ranges of mountains. A creative expression of human presence in the desert, Seven Magic Mountains punctuates the Mojave with a poetic burst of form and color. The exhibition opened May 11, 2016 and will be on view for two years.
Thanks for the heads up Jean. We just happened to be in Las Vegas when you posted this article. I must say I was skeptical at first but once I saw them I was very impressed. And yes there are snakes around there, my Daughter saw a nice sized one. Thanks for this and all your posts. I could never thank you enough for all I’ve learned from them and your book. Keep up the great work we will always be your fans.
You had me as a “must see” for our next trip until you mentioned venomous snakes. No thanks I’ll wait in the car with Brad.
Wow! Gotta see this next trip to Vegas. Who did this?
Awesome Vegas art report!
Interesting, will keep in mind for our visitors. Look forward to follow up story