(male announcer) PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR RARE VISIONS AND ROADSIDE REVELATIONS HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY... (male announcer) THE DE BRUCE COMPANIES, PROUD TO SERVE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST WITH HIGH-SPEED GRAIN HANDLING FACILITIES, FERTILIZER, AND FEED INGREDIENT DISTRIBUTION TERMINALS.

(male announcer) AND BY FRED & LOU HARTWIG, GENEROUS SUPPORTERS OF KCPT AND PUBLIC TELEVISION, URGING YOU TO BECOME A MEMBER TODAY.

(man) ♪ WELCOME TO A SHOW ABOUT THINGS YOU CAN SEE ♪ ♪ WITHOUT GOING FAR, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE FREE.

♪ ♪ IF YOU THOUGHT THERE WAS NOTHING ♪ ♪ IN THE OLD HEARTLAND, ♪ ♪ YOU OUGHT TO HIT THE BLACKTOP ♪ ♪ WITH THESE FOOLS IN A VAN.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT; THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT ART IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ ♪ RANDY DOES THE STEERING SO HE WON'T HURL.

♪ ♪ MIKE'S GOT THE MAP, SUCH A MAN OF THE WORLD.

♪ ♪ THAT'S DON WITH THE CAMERA, ♪ ♪ KIND OF HEAVY ON HIS SHOULDER.

♪ ♪ AND THAT GIANT BALL OF TAPE, IT'S A WORLD RECORD HOLDER.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT; THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT ART IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT; THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT THE WORLD IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT THE WORLD IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ (Don) I'VE NEVER WOUND IN A STARBUCKS BEFORE.

DEAR TV MAILBAG, HAS THE HOME OFFICE HEARD ABOUT THIS?

HI, DON THE CAMERA GUY HERE, PLAYING MAINTENANCE MAN TOO, MAKING SURE OUR WORLD RECORD HOLDER IS READY FOR ROSWELL.

AFTER ALL, IT'S A TOWN THAT WELCOMES THE OTHERWORLDLY, AND WE WELCOME THAT.

THEY'RE HERE!

(Don) BUT FACT AND SCIENCE FICTION ASIDE, LET'S MAKE ONE THING PERFECTLY CLEAR: WE'RE HERE FOR THE SOUVENIRS.

AND WHILE THERE'S PLENTY OF PLACES TO FIND 'EM, THE ALIEN ZONE'S GOT GREAT PHOTO OPS TOO.

[gasping] PEOPLE HAVE SAID FOREVER, "HAVE YOU BEEN TO ROSWELL?"

THEY ALWAYS SAY THAT TO US.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT COMES INTO THEIR HEAD, APPARENTLY.

(Randy) GOOFY GUYS GO TO A PLACE WHERE STRANGE STUFF HAS HAPPENED.

WELL, COME AND HAVE A LOOK HERE.

SEE, AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT IT IS, YOU CAN EVEN-- YOU CAN EVEN POSE WITH HIM.

(Mike) I LIKE THE FACT THAT THEY LOVE TO BARBECUE.

IT'S THE OTHER GRAY MEAT.

[laughs] WHOA.

WHOA.

HELP ME.

HELP ME.

OH, HO-HO.

(Randy) WHY WOULD THEY CHOOSE ROSWELL?

(Mike) WELL, IF YOU'RE CRASHING, YOU DON'T REALLY MAYBE GET TO CHOOSE WHERE YOU CRASH.

BUT IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE, JUST JUDGING BY WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE, THEY'VE HAD A PRETTY GOOD TIME WHILE IN ROSWELL, I MEAN, OTHER THAN THAT AUTOPSY THING.

(Randy) ROSWELL HAS BECOME SYNONYMOUS-- I MEAN, THINK ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO LIVE IN A TOWN WHERE, LIKE, JUST YOUR TOWN NAME MEANS... [making weird noises] OKAY, SO THERE'S A T-SHIRT GUY JUST AROUND THE CORNER WHO'S PROBABLY THE BUSIEST GUY IN ROSWELL.

CAN WE GET A SHOT OF HIM?

CAN YOU MAKE T-SHIRTS FA ST ENOUGH FOR THE DEMAND?

YEAH.

WE GOT THAT.

I'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT.

WELL, DEFINITELY THAT AND THAT.

THAT.

THAT.

RING US UP, SIR.

(Don) OF COURSE, MORE STUFF MEANS EVEN LESS ROOM IN THE MINIVAN WE CALL HOME.

IN FACT, EVEN NOW WE'RE OUT OF ROSWELL, HEADIN' NORTH, ON THE LOOKOUT, AS ALWAYS, FOR GREAT GRASSROOTS ART AND OFFBEAT WONDERS.

PRODUCERS UP FRONT, CARGO AND CAMERA GUYS IN BACK.

I'M VELCROED TO THE COOLER, SO IF YOU SLAM INTO THAT-- LOOK OUT; THERE'S A-- (Don) THOSE ARE SOME OMINOUS CLOUDS STARTING TO GATHER, SO FOR ONCE, WE ALL SEEM TO AGREE: SHOOTIN' OUT IN THE RAIN AND COLD MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL.

SO WE'RE OFF TO SEEK SHELTER AND RIDE OUT THE STORM.

HOW ABOUT LAS VEGAS?

IT'S CLOSER THAN YOU THINK.

[dog barking] NOW, BACK IN THE DAY, THIS WAS THE VEGAS WHERE WHAT HAPPENED STAYED.

TOM MIX MADE MOVIES HERE, CELEBRITIES CAME, AND THE PLAZA HOTEL, COMPLETE WITH ITS GHOST, WAS AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL.

I DIDN'T SEE A GHOST IN MY ROOM.

I'M SORRY-- THE GHOST IS ONLY DRAWN TOWARDS WOMEN.

AND I SWEAR, THE FIRST NIGHT I STAYED HERE, I WAS IN ONE OF THE ROOMS THAT IT SUPPOSEDLY VISITS, AND I KNOW IT WAS THERE.

(Don) MARGARET'S A FORMER HOUSTONIAN WHO NOT ONLY BOUGHT OUR BOOK AT FULL RETAIL, SHE SCOPED OUT SOME SIGHTS SHE WANTS US TO SEE.

AND LIKE THE BEST GUIDE EVER, SHE'S BLAZING A TRAIL WE JUST CANNOT LOSE.

(Mike) HOW WE DOING?

SO FAR SO GOOD.

OH, MY.

LOOK AT THAT.

(Margaret) CASEY, THIS IS MICHAEL.

THIS IS RANDY.

THIS IS DON THE CAMERA GUY.

(Don) MARGARET'S LED US TO CASEY'S.

HIS CASA DE COLORES, THAT'S "HOUSE OF COLORS" NOT "CALORIES," HAS RARE VISIONS WRITTEN ALL OVER IT.

NOT LITERALLY, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

(Mike) HOW'D YOU GET STARTED WITH ALL OF THIS?

IT CAME TO MY CEREBELLA LIKE I TOLD YOU.

IT'S OKAY.

(Randy) IS IT A COLORFUL CEREBELLA?

DO YOU SEE EVERYTHING IN COLORS?

YES, TECHNICOLOR, YEAH.

RAINBOW COLOR.

NO, I USED TO BE A-- WORK IN AUTO BODY.

(Don) COLORS?

(Casey) YES, COLORS.

(Don) SURE.

(Randy) IS CASEY YOUR REAL NAME?

CASIMIRO DORIVIO MARQUEZ.

CASEY.

YES.

(Mike) WH O'S THE GUY BEHIND YOU THERE?

WHERE?

THAT'S A DON.

(Mike) THAT'S A DON?

YEAH.

(Don) I'M A DON TOO.

EH?

QUE BUENO.

[laughs] (Mike) I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT ALL THE STUFFED ANIMALS, THE THINGS I SEE HANGING.

YOU SEEM TO HAVE-- YOU SEEM TO LIKE THOSE.

(Marquez) YES.

(Mike) TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

(Marquez) IT BRINGS OUT THE KID IN ME.

(Mike) NOW, WHERE'D YOU GET ALL THOSE?

(Marquez) AT THE SALVATION STORE.

[speaking Spanish] (Mike) SHE AIN'T CAMERA SHY.

[laughs] (Yvonne) HE WAS PAINTING A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.

HE JUST DID THIS FOR THE BEGINNING.

AND HE MAKES ME GO GET THE COLORS FOR HIM, AND WE GO SHOPPING FOR IT.

AND HE'S VERY COLORFUL, AND HE LIKES WHAT HE DOES, AND HE'S VERY ARTISTIC, AND WHEN HE GETS TO WORK, THIS IS WHAT HE COMES OUT WITH, SO HE LIKES WHAT HE DOES.

(Casey) I USED TO PAINT HOUSES.

BUT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, REGULAR PAINT.

(Randy) DID YOU EVER PAINT ANYBODY'S HOUSE TO LOOK LIKE THIS?

OH, NO.

[laughter] (Randy) I HAD TO ASK.

YEAH, YEAH.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

WE GO FOR DAILY WALKS NOW THAT THE WEATHER'S WARM.

YOU KNOW, WINTER, WE STAY INSIDE, AND THAT'S WHEN HE GETS TO THE COLORING INSIDE.

HE DOES THE FLOORS.

HE DOES THE WALLS.

AND THERE'S TIMES I COME IN, IT SMELLS LIKE PAINT, AND WE HAVE TO LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN A LITTLE, BUT HE KEEPS HIMSELF VERY ACTIVE.

(Mike) AND WAS THERE A PLAN?

NO.

[laughter] (Randy) DOES THE HOUSE MAKE YOU HAPPY WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT AND SEE?

(Casey) OF COURSE.

I'M JUST HAPPY; THAT'S ALL.

HAPPY-GO-LUCKY.

(Randy) THIS IS HOME.

(Casey) THIS IS MY HOME SWEET HOME.

(Don) THAT'S A BIG QUE BUENO FOR CASEY'S PLACE.

BUT HE DOES MEAN IT WHEN HE SAYS, MI CASA NO ES SU CASA.

VISITORS WELCOME, BUT PLEASE STAY OUTSIDE THE GATE.

TIME NOW FOR STOP NUMBER TWO ON OUR TOUR DE MARGARET JUST A FEW LAS VEGAS BLOCKS AWAY.

THOUGH, SADLY, THE GUY WHO MADE ALL THIS ISN'T HOME TODAY.

LUCKILY, ONE OF HIS NEIGHBORS IS MORE THAN WILLING TO STEP UP ON HIS BEHALF.

THIS IS ALL BOBBY VALDEZ'S WORK.

HE WORKED ON IT FOR YEARS, AND HE'S A VIETNAM VET, YOU KNOW, AND DISABLED.

99.9 OF THIS STUFF HE DIDN'T PREFAB.

IT WAS ALL FREEHAND AND FROM HIS OWN THOUGHTS AND HIS OWN MIND, YOU KNOW.

(Randy) WAS HE OUT HERE ALL THE TIME?

(Martinez) WELL, NOT ALL THE TIME.

THIS TOOK HIM A GOOD-- I'D SAY BY THE TIME HE STARTED AND FINISHED WITH IT, IT'S BEEN PROBABLY A 10-, 20-YEAR PROJECT, YOU KNOW.

HE ADDS ON TO HIS PARK EVERY OTHER YEAR.

OR EVERY YEAR, HE'S ADDING; SOMETHING'S ADDED ON TO HIS PARK.

YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW MANY PEOPLE STOP TO SEE IT.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE HEAD-MOVERS WHERE YOU'RE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE NOT FROM LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO.

AND YOU'RE CRUISING DOWN THE ROAD, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU SEE THIS.

"HEY, WHAT'S UP?"

YOU KNOW.

THIS IS SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

AND THIS IS JUST AN AWESOME PLACE TO VISIT.

YOU COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER NEIGHBOR IF YOU HAD TO PAY IT.

TOO BAD THAT HE'S NOT AROUND TODAY THAT YOU GUYS ARE HERE, THOUGH, SO YOU COULD ACTUALLY TALK TO THE GUY THAT MADE THIS STUFF.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SAID, "I'M A PART OF THIS," YOU KNOW, EVEN PICKED UP A ROCK AND LAID IT THERE, BUT I NEVER GOT INVOLVED AT ALL.

(Randy) HERE.

PICK UP A ROCK.

(Mike) YEAH, PICK UP A ROCK.

(Don) TALK ABOUT YOUR GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY.

WE LEFT A T-SHIRT FOR BOBBY IN MANUEL'S HANDS ALONG WITH A CHANCE TO GO MANO A MANO WITH OUR BIG BALL OF TAPE... JESUS.

(Don) THEN RESUMED THE SCENIC DRIVING PORTION OF OUR SHOW THROUGH VERDANT VALLEYS AND ROLLING ARROYOS, FINALLY COMING TO A REST JUST OUTSIDE TEENY, TINY CHILILI AT A FINAL RESTING PLACE KNOWN FOR ITS MAN-MADE METAL MARKERS MADE BY THE HANDS OF HORACE MCAFEE.

MORE DETAILS AS THEY EMERGE.

(Randy) THESE ARE HIS, THE ONES WITH THE PINHOLES, YOU KNOW, THE PINS-- THE NAIL HOLES.

(Randy) THIS IS THE ONE THAT STARTED IT.

YEAH, IT WAS HIS DAD.

(Mike) LOOK: TWO PURPLE HEARTS, TWO SILVER STARS.

(Kelly) I THINK THAT THERE WAS KIND OF A LACK OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IN THE U.S. ARMY OF PEOPLE THAT WERE OF MINORITY.

AND I THINK THAT HE WANTED TO RIGHT THAT WRONG AND MAKE SURE THAT HIS FATHER WAS REALLY KNOWN FOR WHAT HE DID, THE HERO THAT HE WAS, AND GETTING THE RESPECT THAT HE REALLY FELT THAT HE DESERVED.

AND I THINK, THEN, THIS KIND OF SPILLED OVER TO WANTING TO HONOR HIS MOTHER.

HE HAS A COUPLE TWIN CHILDREN, THAT ARE BACK OVER IN THE CHILDREN'S AREA.

YOU CAN SEE WHERE HIS SISTERS AND HIS BROTHERS...

THIS CEMETERY ORIGINALLY WAS A CATHOLIC CHURCH DOWN THE ROAD THAT EITHER GOT FLOODED, OR IT WAS TOO FULL.

BUT THEY'VE MOVED A LOT OF THE PLOTS OVER HERE.

AND HE CAME OUT TO MARK A LOT OF THE GRAVES THAT DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE ANY KIND OF FAMILY THAT WERE LEFT.

HE REALLY WANTED TO HONOR THE DEAD, AND HE DID SUCH AN INCREDIBLE JOB HONORING THE MEMORY OF HIS FATHER AND HIS FAMILY AND THEN BRINGING HIS OWN PIECE OF ART.

I MEAN, THIS IS STEEL.

THIS IS REALLY HARD.

AND, OBVIOUSLY, IT SURVIVES THE ELEMENTS SO MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT THE WOOD HAS DONE, THAN WHAT THE CONCRETE HAS DONE.

THERE'S SUCH A VARIETY OF STYLES IN THIS CEMETERY.

IT'S JUST AMAZING, AS IT MAKES IT EVEN MORE PERSONAL.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU COME OUT HERE, IT'S--IT'S-- (Randy) IT'S SWEET.

(Kelly) YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S VERY TOUCHING.

(Mike) THERE IT IS.

I CAN SEE IT RIGHT HERE.

EH, GO AROUND THE BLOCK.

(Don) SOME DAYS START WAY TOO SOON.

BEFORE YOU CAN SAY "BREAKFAST," WE'RE FACE-TO-FACE WITH A JAW-DROPPING VISUAL FEAST, A LOCAL LANDMARK KNOWN SIMPLY AS THE TILE HOUSE.

BEVERLY MAGENNIS TILED IT, MOVED ON, AND LEFT IT IN THE CAPABLE HANDS OF HER DAUGHTER.

ERIN HOPES WE WON'T ASK HOW MANY TILES HER MOM PUT ON IT, WHICH WE WON'T, BUT YOU GOT TO WONDER: WHERE DO YOU START ON A JOB LIKE THIS?

(Erin) SOMEWHERE AROUND THIS DOOR, SHE DID PART OF IT, YOU KNOW, LIKE A LITTLE BORDER AND THEN MAYBE THE TRIANGLES.

AND THEN SHE JUST KEPT GOING AN D GOING.

AND, UM-- GOING AND GOING.

(Erin) GOING AND GOING.

EVENTUALLY, SHE STARTED POURING CONCRETE ON THE GROUND AND DOING THE GROUND.

(Randy) WHEN DID SHE START THIS?

WHAT YEAR DID YOU-- (Erin) 1984.

SO SHE WORKED ON IT CONSTANTLY FOR ABOUT 11 YEARS.

SO THE HOUSE ALWAYS HAD STUFF AROUND IT?

THE HOUSE WAS ALWAYS A WORK IN PROGRESS?

EXACTLY, YEAH.

(Mike) IT MUST HAVE BEEN FUN TO BRING FRIENDS HOME AND-- "AH, YOU KNOW THE HOUSE.

IT'S THE HOUSE WITH THE TILE."

(Erin) "YEAH, THAT'S MY MOM.

SHE'S TILING THE WALLS."

[laughter] PEOPLE STARTED BRINGING TILE AND LEAVING IT IN THE DRIVEWAY, AND SHE'D GO AROUND TO ALL THE TILE STORES, AND THEY WOULD JUST GIVE HER SCRAP TILES.

(Randy) SO FLOWERS, CHICKENS-- WHAT WERE SOME--OR MOTIFS?

(Erin) MY MOM, YEAH-- MY MOM DOES A LOT OF BIRDS.

I MEAN, SHE DID THE BIRDS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE COURTYARD, AND SHE DID THE GUARDIAN FIGURES UP FRONT WITH PEACE OFFERINGS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GUARD THE HOUSE AND-- (Randy) HOW ARE THEY DOING ON THAT?

(Erin) GOOD.

SO DO YOU GUYS WANT TO GO INSIDE?

WE WOULD LIKE TO GO INSIDE.

'CAUSE I HAVE A FEELING THERE'S SOMETHING GOOD INSIDE TOO.

ERIN, THIS ISN'T-- THIS ISN'T TILE.

(Erin) THESE ARE BOTTLE CAPS.

MY MOM HAD SOME FRIENDS THAT WAITRESSED.

THEY HAD A BIG TRASH CAN, AND THEY SAVED ALL OF THE BOTTLE CAPS FOR A YEAR, PROBABLY.

MY MOM'S HUSBAND SMOKED THE CIGARS.

(Randy) I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A COOL COMBINATION OF MATERIALS.

DID THEY ALL REQUIRE SOME ADHESIVE LEARNING CURVE?

(Erin) UH, WELL, NO.

WELL, THE ONLY THING THAT FALLS OFF THE CEILING ARE THE GOLF BALLS.

[laughter] (Mike) FORE!

(Randy) SO YOUR MOM OR YOU?

(Erin) I DID THE CEREAL.

MY MOM DID EVERYTHING ELSE.

'CAUSE WHEN SHE LEFT IN '96, THERE WERE STILL AREAS THAT NEEDED TO BE FILLED IN, SO I DID THE CEREAL.

SO WE'RE KEEPING IT UP AND PRESERVING IT.

WE HAD OLD WOODEN WINDOWS, AND IT WAS TILED ON OIL-BASED PAINTS, AND SO IT WAS JUST SEPARATING OFF OF THE HOUSE.

SO WE SCRAPED IT OFF AND RETILED IT.

AND I TRIED TO RE-CREATE THE SAME PATTERN THAT MY MOM DID.

IT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN THE TILE.

IT'S NOT JUST LIKE THIS, WHERE IT'S JUST DIFFERENT SCRAP TILE FROM ALL OVER.

I ACTUALLY ORDERED TILE, AND WE GOT A GRANT FROM THE CITY TO HELP US PURCHASE THE TILE.

(Mike) HOW MUCH TIME DID IT TAKE YOU TO REDO THE FRONT?

(Erin) IT TOOK ME A YEAR AND A HALF.

EVERY SPARE MOMENT I HAD, I WAS REDOING IT, YEAH.

(Don) BEVERLY, BY THE WAY, IS STILL MAKING ART, JUST NOT IN ALBUQUERQUE.

MEANWHILE, ERIN'S OPENED A TILE SHOP OF HER OWN WITH PLANS TO TACKLE THE BACK OF THE HOUSE IN THE SAME PAINSTAKING WAY SHE DID THE FRONT.

WE WISHED HER THE BEST AND HEADED OFF FOR-- CAN THIS BE COINCIDENCE?

THE MOTHER ROAD ITSELF, ROUTE 66, AKA CENTRAL AVENUE, HOME TO THE STATE FAIRGROUNDS AND RIGHT ACROSS FROM 'EM, A CLASSIC FIBERGLASS GIANT, THE MUFFLER MAN KNOWN AS FIDEL.

SOMETHING'S CREEPY ABOUT THIS ONE, THOUGH, 'CAUSE LOOK AT THE WAY THE CLOTHING'S ALL WRINKLED UP AND THE ARM'S ALL DAMAGED.

YEAH, LOOK AT HOW BONY HIS FINGERS LOOK.

IT'S LIKE THEY'RE NOT FEEDING HIM.

(Randy) SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH HIS MOUSTACHE.

IT'S, LIKE, UPSIDE DOWN.

(Mike) YEAH, IT'S LIKE THEY TURNED IT AROUND.

YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT'S IT.

I'LL BET IT'S SPUN.

(Randy) IT'S "PAUL SPUNYAN."

I'M STILL TRYING TO SEE THE TIE TO THE VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT.

NO, IT'S NOT THAI.

IT'S VIETNAMESE.

(Don) GOOD THING HE'S GOT THE AX.

OF COURSE, MY WEAPON'S THE CAMERA, AND IT'S BEEN DEPLOYED DOWN CENTRAL TO DOCUMENT THIS LODGING LEGEND.

THE AZTEC CLAIMS IT'S THE LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING MOTEL ON ROUTE 66.

AT THE VERY LEAST, IT'S GOT THE MOST FOLK ART.

(Randy) YOO-HOO.

YOO-HOO.

I'VE KNOCKED.

I'VE YOO-HOOED.

(Don) GOOD THING WE DON'T NEED ROOMS, SINCE WE CAN'T ROUSE ANYONE, SO A QUICK SIDEWALK SURMISING WILL JUST HAVE TO DO.

(Mike) IT'S LIKE A GALLERY.

(Randy) IT IS.

EACH LITTLE SECTION IS DIFFERENT.

(Mike) WELL, AND, YOU KNOW, SHE WENT OUT, AND SHE GOT A BUNCH OF TILE.

AND THERE'S-- THERE'S JAMES DEAN, AMERICAN ICON.

AND THERE'S ARTWORK UP HERE FRAMED.

(Randy) THEY'VE HELD UP PRETTY WELL.

YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE REALLY, THOSE ARE INDOOR PAINTINGS.

(Mike) I DON'T KNOW.

I JUST THINK THE WHOLE OVERALL EFFECT IS KIND OF INTERESTING.

(Randy) IT'S LIKE NO MOTEL WE'VE SEEN, ISN'T IT?

(Don) NO, IT ISN'T.

BUT THEN AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T DONE THIS BEFORE EITHER.

THAT IS, CRUISE THE ROUTE IN A CIRCUIT-BOARD-ENCRUSTED PICKUP CREATED AND DRIVEN BY ONE DOC ATOMIC, WHOSE ACQUAINTANCE WE MADE MERE MINUTES BEFORE.

(Doc) I GET PULLED OVER, BUT I DON'T GET A TICKET.

I DON'T GET GRAFFITIED.

PEOPLE LIKE IT.

IT'S PART OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW, AND KIDS LOVE IT.

PEOPLE COME BY, AND THEY GET THEIR PICTURES TAKEN WITH IT.

IT'S ALL FOUND SCRAP LEFTOVER ELECTRONICS AND SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT.

THAT'S WHAT I WORK WITH.

I ACTUALLY SEE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, BEAUTY IN SOME OF THE OLD ELECTRONICS.

I MEAN, YOU TAKE SOMETHING APART TODAY, AND IT'S JUST THIS LITTLE FLAT CIRCUIT BOARD, BUT YOU TAKE APART A 20-YEAR-OLD PIECE OF ELECTRONICS, THERE'S ALL SORTS OF COOL-LOOKING STUFF IN THERE.

I USED TO WORK FOR THE NEW MEXICO BUREAU OF MINES IN THE EARLY '80s DOING A ANALYTIC CHEMISTRY TECHNIQUE CALLED ATOMIC ABSORPTION, AND PEOPLE STARTED CALLING ME DOC ATOMIC.

I REALLY ENJOY TAKING INORGANIC THINGS AND MAKING ORGANIC STRUCTURES OUT OF THEM, TAKING THE ELECTRONICS AND MAKING HUMAN FORM.

THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES HERE HAVE A CONCEPT OF THE KACHINA.

AND SO ALONG WITH THE CONCEPT OF WORKING WITH THE ELECTRONICS, I MADE A SERIES OF MACHINA DOLLS.

SO THIS IS GENERAL ELECTRIC.

THIS IS THE KACHINA OF KITCHEN APPLIANCES, AND I REALLY LIKED THE WAY IT CAME OUT, SO I MADE SOME MORE OF THOSE.

AND I MADE MY SERIES OF SMALL ONES, AND NOW I'M BUILDING A LARGE ONE.

OF COURSE, I'VE BEEN BUILDING THAT LARGER ONE FOR A LONG TIME.

I HAVE ALL THE WIRE.

I JUST-- I DON'T HAVE ALL THE TIME.

I'VE BEEN A SUCCESSFUL SCIENTIST.

I'VE BEEN A SUCCESSFUL ARTIST.

I'M NO LONGER INTERESTED IN SCIENCE.

I MEAN, I'M INTERESTED, BUT I DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

TO DO REALLY GOOD WORK, IT WASN'T MEMORIZING THINGS AND DOING MATH, IT WAS BEING CREATIVE.

AND YOU TAKE THINGS, AND YOU PUT THEM TOGETHER, AND YOU TAKE THINGS AND PUT THEM TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT PLEASES YOU AND GETS THE JOB DONE, WHETHER IT'S MOLECULES, WHETHER IT'S BUILDING MATERIALS IN YOUR HOUSE, OR WHETHER IT'S THE THINGS THAT YOU SCULPT WITH.

(Don) AS YOU CAN SEE, THE DOC HASN'T GIVEN UP CHEMISTRY ALTOGETHER.

AND OUT BACK, HE'S GOT THE KIND OF TURTLE THAT HI-DEF WAS MADE FOR.

BUT BACK TO THAT PICKUP, PERHAPS THE ONLY ART CAR EVER TO HAVE LIVED THREE DIFFERENT LIVES: POSTCARDS, ADOBE, AND NOW THIS.

I'M READY, MAN.

I'M READY FOR THE FUTURE.

(Don) BUT DON'T GET HIM WRONG.

THE DOC THINKS MOST FOLKS ARE WAY TOO WORRIED ABOUT THEIR RIDES.

(Doc) IT'S AN OLD TRUCK, YOU KNOW.

A GUY'S GOT TO HAVE AN OLD TRUCK, AND I'M NEVER GETTING RID OF IT.

I AM DRIVING THAT TRUCK UNTIL IT DIES.

AND IF I DIE FIRST, I'VE ALREADY WILLED MYSELF TO BE STUFFED AND ALL MY 8-TRACKS-- AND I STILL HAVE A WORKING 8-TRACK PLAYER, MIND YOU-- TO THE SMITHSONIAN, AND I'LL JUST GO INTO THE '60s EXHIBIT.

[dog barks] (Don) NOW, WE'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE, AND I MEAN THAT IN THE LITERAL SENSE.

A DECADE OR SO AGO, WE TRAVELED THE TURQUOISE TRAIL, SO WE'RE WELL AWARE THAT MADRID, ONCE DESERTED, IS NOW HOPPING WITH HARMONIC CONVERGENCE.

BUT WE DIDN'T SEE THIS, SINCE AT THE TIME, IT WAS JUST GETTING STARTED: TINY TOWN, THE BONE ZONE, THE ART THAT DIES TO LIVE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, HAS BEEN RISING UP THANKS TO TAMMY TATTOO, THE SELF-PROCLAIMED MAYOR OF MADRILLOS.

(Tammy) HOW IT STARTED: I STARTED DOING SOME BONE DRAGONS, AND I DID ONE BONE MOTORCYCLE.

IT WAS ABOUT THIS BIG.

AND I CALLED IT FLAMBONE.

AND THEN IT NEEDED A RIDER, SO I CREATED THE BONY RIDER, WHICH WAS, LIKE, 19 INCHES TALL, AND HE MOVED IN ALL THE RIGHT JOINTS, AND I CARVED HIS LITTLE HEAD AND PUT LEATHERS ON HIM.

OKAY, THEN HE NEEDED A BAR.

THEN HE NEEDED AN APARTMENT.

THEN HE NEEDED A MOTORCYCLE SHOP.

THEN HE NEEDED A JAIL 'CAUSE HE GOT IN TROUBLE.

THEN HE NEEDED A CHURCH SO HE COULD SAY HIS PRAYERS.

AND THEN HE NEEDED AN ENTERTAINMENT SECTION, WHICH CONSISTS OF A GUILLOTINE AND A HANGMAN'S GALLOWS, AND THEY WORK.

[laughs] WHAT?

THIS IS LITTLE TINY TOWN HOME DEPOT.

I'VE BEEN COLLECTING BONES, FOR, LIKE, AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, YEARS AND YEARS.

AND I HAVE SEVERAL PLACES THAT I GO BACK, LIKE, ONCE A YEAR, TWICE A YEAR AND LOAD 'EM UP, MAN.

(Randy) DON'T YOU LIVE BACK THERE?

OR YOU HAVE BEEN LIVING BACK IN THE TRAILER?

(Tammy) I WAS.

BUT THAT'S GONNA BECOME THE WORKSHOP NOW WHERE I CAN CREATE ART.

THIS IS MY THRONE.

THIS IS THE ORIGINAL RIVER OF GLASS, WHERE IT FIRST STARTED.

AND A LOT OF THE GLASS THAT GOES DOWN THIS RIVER IS FROM A LOT OF THE OLD MINING TOWNS.

I'LL CALL YOU BACK ON THE CELL BONE.

[laughing] I HAVE TO HAVE SEVERAL THINGS GOING AT ONCE.

MY ATTENTION SPAN GETS VERY BORED VERY QUICKLY.

(Mike) SO WHAT'S GOING RIGHT NOW?

OH, WELL, I WAS WORKING ON THE BOWLING ALLEY WITH BALL RETURN.

THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN BOWL DOWN A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY, BREAK GLASS, AND GET AWAY WITH IT.

(Mike) OH, I LIKE IT ALREADY.

(Tammy) I LOVE THE SOUND OF BREAKING GLASS.

[glass shatters] (Mike) CAN I BOWL?

UH, I DON'T KNOW.

CAN YOU?

WHOA.

(Mike) ANY ADVICE?

(Tammy) WELL, YOU'VE GOT ONE DOWN.

PICK UP THE SPARE.

OH, I MISSED AGAIN.

[laughter] (Tammy) BEING THE MAYOR AND SHERIFF AND ALL THAT AND MAINTENANCE AND LAND KEEPER AND BUILDER AND CREATOR AND THIS AND THAT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF TASKS GOING ON HERE.

IT'S HARD TO MAINTAIN EVERY BIT OF IT.

AS YOU PUTT-PUTT THROUGH HERE, YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH CHOOSE YOUR ROUTE.

(Don) OH , WIDE LEFT.

(Mike) WHOA.

NICE SHOT.

ALL RIGHT, BETTER BONES AND GARDENS.

WHICH WAY?

RIGHT THIS WAY.

(Tammy) I BELIEVE WE CAN ALL PARTICIPATE IN THE WHEEL OF IMAGINATION.

OH, YES.

START SPREADING IT ALL AROUND.

(Mike) ♪ START SPREADING THE BONES ♪ [laughing] THERE, SEE.

(Mike) HE Y, IT'S A CHEERLEADER DO ING THE SPLITS.

OR NO, MAYBE THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THOSE BALLET DANCERS IN A LEAP.

(Tammy) OH , NO.

I MEAN, PEOPLE SEE THE STRANGEST THINGS HERE.

(Mike) YOU'RE KIDDING.

(Tammy) NO, THEY REALLY DO.

MOST PEOPLE, WHEN THEY LEAVE HERE, THEY DON'T LOOK AT EVERYTHING THE SAME AGAIN.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, COME ON.

THEY SEE ROADKILL, THEY THINK OF ME.

BROKEN GLASS, THEY BRING IT TO ME.

[glass shatters] (Don) THIS PLACE IS WHAT THEY CALL INTERACTIVE, WHAT WITH ALL THIS TO DO.

THOUGH IT APPEARS ONE PRODUCER HAS INTERACTED A LITTLE TOO CLOSELY WITH THAT WHEEL.

WELL, YOU ALL RIGHT?

WATCH YOUR HEAD.

(Mike) YOU BONEHEAD.

FROM THE BONE ZONE, WITH NEOSPORIN IF HE NEEDS IT, THIS IS DON THE CAMERA GUY SIGNING OFF.

[laughing] THAT'S WONDERFUL.

(female announcer) DVDs, T-SHIRTS, AND A COMPANION BOOK FOR THIS SERIES ARE AVAILABLE BY CALLING: TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SITES AND ARTISTS FEATURED ON THIS EPISODE AND TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHOW, GO TO RAREVISIONSROADTRIP.COM.

Captioning byCaptionMax www.captionmax.com (Tammy) BEEN SEVERAL YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN TO CHURCH.

YOU THINK I CAN DO IT?

[laughs] [laughing] (Mike) I LOVE THE FEET.

WIGGLE THOSE FEET FOR US.

THANK YOU.

OH, YOU BET.

[laughs] IT'S GOOD TO BE UP.

(Don) AND NOW IT'S OFF TO PERKINS.

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(male announcer) AND BY FRED & LOU HARTWIG, GENEROUS SUPPORTERS OF KCPT AND PUBLIC TELEVISION, URGING YOU TO BECOME A MEMBER TODAY.