Jul 7, 2020
Bobbi
Fabian's first experience with desert was with the Warner Brothers
Roadrunner cartoon. Growing up in Melbourne Australia, Bobbi made
her way to America looking for more opportunities as a
photographer, finding she felt more at home in the U.S. than
in her home country. Bobbi moved to the U.S. in 2003, settling in
Los Angeles. With an MA in Photography Bobbi was a freelance
photographer and educator for most of her working life –
commissioned by brands like Timex, Penguin Books, Audi and other
household names.
On a
road trip through America, while working on a project, she and a
friend made a point to go through Death Valley and Joshua Tree.
Staying at the Amargosa Hotel, they felt so at
home, they decided to meet there every Christmas following that
visit.
Bobbi's friend was unable to make it to their
annual holiday in 2014 and Bobbi decided to go anyway
.
There
she met a women and her friend who had moved to Death Valley
Junction to perform Mara Becket’s original (dance) pieces.
During that trip, Bobbi sensed good things would be happening in
Death Valley Junction and decided to make another trip back sooner
than her annual holiday visit.
It was
February 2015 and the Opera House was having a special event dinner
and performance celebrating Valentines Day. The Dancer and her
friend, charged with making dinner for the patrons, had gotten into
an argument. Bobbi stepped in to help the friend finish the dinner
preparations. The following morning, he told her the Cafe was in
need of management and Bobbi should consider taking the job. Bobbi
dismissed the idea, but couldn't let go of the thought the entire
ride back to Los Angeles.
A
month later, Bobbi was back in Death Valley Junction sharing her
ideas for the Cafe with Marta Becket, who said yes to all of
them. On June 10, 2020, Bobbi
celebrated five years in Death Valley Junction.
In this
episode Bobbi also shares some of the history of Death
Valley Junction, how dancer Marta Becket came to be the caretaker
of the town and how this place with 268 acres, population 3,
survives today.
Now,
as the general manager of the Cafe, Hotel and Opera House, with the
support of the non-profit's Board of Directors, Bobbi describes her
day to day: working in and
hiring for the cafe, overseeing the maintenance for all three
buildings as well as sharing the history of the Junction with it's
curious visitors.
We
also talk about Death Valley National Park,
what drew her in so closely to that part of the desert and her
disappointment with folks who treat the desert as a
wasteland.
There
are a number of videos available on YouTube telling a deeper story
about Marta, her journey to Death Valley and her revitalization of
the Amargosa Opera House. Just google 'Amargosa YouTube' or check
out the documentary 'Amargosa' available online. It was such a
documentary that inspired Desert Lady Diaries guest, Shana Rhodes, to make her own
move to the desert.
Take a
look at Bobbi's photography here: www.bobbifabian.com
Visit
the Amargosa website: http://www.amargosaoperahouse.org/
And,
if you can and are so moved, please donate to the go fund me
campaign to help the non-profit maintain the property during this
time of Covid-19 closures: