DO YOU KNOW ART?

“Do you know art?!” A kinda strange question for most people. There I was in Desert Hot Spring, DHS to the locals. I was taking pictures of the old motels and spas that were once the glory of what was supposed to be the new Las Vegas of the Mojave desert in the 60s. But, due to a series of unfortunate dealings… DHS is now nothing more than a dead end desert town, filled with retirees from all over the country living the life off their Social Security checks and tanning themselves to the point of looking like old leather purses with legs.
It was Thanksgiving weekend and the heat of the day was finally wearing off as the sun was setting over the parking lot of the abandoned motel. I was setting up to take a picture of the old burned out signage of the Riviera Spa & Motel… the light was perfect the sun was setting quickly, and I had just a few minutes to take the shot.
Just, as I released the camera trigger, two women stepped into the frame. I motioned for them to move on, but instead they began walking towards me. When they got within 5 feet, they stopped and stood there staring at me. The youngest of the two, then tipped her head, in that cute/not so cute way and said, “Uhhh ….Do you know …. art?” Not wanting to sound pompous, or like a total jackass, I simply said, “No,I’m not an artist, I just want to take this picture.” She took a step back (still in frame I might add) and looked at me like I was a total moron. Now with a snark in her voice she said, “No, not that… ART….the hotel manager… -A -R -T…you know…Arthur? ” I smiled sheepishly shook my head “NO…sorry…”
As I turned to leave, I am sure I heard her say “DUH” under her breath.
I didn’t actually see the image I took that evening until sometime later, and was surprised to find that the shot was so much better with the two women silhouetted by the setting sun.

To this day I still, love this image… And I still do not know the manager known as “ART” at the Riveria Motel in DHS.