The Salton Sea

When I was asked to participate in Eureka! A California Graphic Design Story with the Hoods and Friends, I thought the Salton Sea was the perfect subject for my piece.

A little background:
The Salton Sea was the product of an accidental canal overflow in 1905. After the government-sanctioned introduction of fish to this man-made lake, tourists flocked to the Salton for sport fishing, sunbathing, speed boating, etc. This was short-lived, however, as the toxicity levels of the lake heightened over the years, a mix of raising salt levels and pesticides from nearby agricultural installments. Today, the Salton is essentially a wasteland littered with the bones of wildlife and salt-encrusted debris.

The piece itself is designed in the illustration style of the 50s & 60, Salton’s heyday. A transparent glow in the dark layer is printed on top of the illustration revealing the bones and broken remains of what was once a thriving beach attraction.

4 color screenprint on creme paper, edition of 55. I’ll be selling these suckers for 35 bones. Email me at lauren@typogriff.com if you’re interested in nabbing one!