When it comes to blending the Wild West and ballerinas there is only one person I would ever consider; MARTA BECKET of Death Valley Juncion and the Amargosa Opera House!!!!
Marta inspired many and was a true pioneer. What she did out in California after leaving her NY career took
True Grit
Guts
Faith
Passion
Commitment
Creative Thinking
Living Frugally
Conviction
Strength
Determination
Vision
Inspiration
And so much MORE!
In the end, Marta was the sole living resident of the “town” of Death Valley Junction. She lived in what would have been a Ghost Town (with plenty of ghosts still residing there)! Staying there was surreal. Marta was the most amazing blend of visual artist, musician, costume and set designer, and dancer. She was a Renaissance Being of the highest caliber and she performed whether or not she had a live audience in the Opera House or her painted mural audience. Who DOES THIS? What kind of person is THAT committed to performing?
My only regret is that I did not meet Marta earlier in my life. But I will be forever thrilled that I decided to take that” little” 8 hour detour to see Marta the first time. I was driving from the Sierras in Eastern California to Santa Barbara on the coast….when I decided to head to Death Valley Junction for a few days…in over 100 degree weather without air conditioning! The whole trip was wildly crazy! Just what this New Yorker Gal needed when she had thought she’d seen it all! Hah! Really you ain’t seen Nothin’ till you’ve seen Death Valley Junction and Marta’s world! She should have been givne a National Medal for the Arts.
Thank you to Elise Long for introducing me to DVJ and Marta, and for hatching the Live Art in Death Valley Event with me as a co-producer. May we all live like Marta in some way in our lives. Meeting Marta Becket inspired me to step into owning that I too am a visual artist as well as a performing artist. I can only hope to live up to her standards.
Ellynne Skove/aka “FlyGirl” February 1, 2017