CD WallReflective Wall. These two words bring to mind a popular Hollywood movie, where a character, played by Mel Gibson, covers the walls of his apartment with aluminum foil. Why? To keep aliens and government agents from reading his thoughts.
Jeff Dukatt also has reflective walls, but unlike the Mel Gibson character, he’s not trying to keep anyone out. In fact, he wants everyone—aliens, government operatives, and all the rest of us—to come and look at his reflective walls. Dukatt, owner of Dukatt ’71, a combination clothing store/printing shop/aquarium, is generating quite a buzz, becoming one of the primary tourist attractions in Truth or Consequences, this sleepy New Mexico town named after an old game show.
Dukatt’s reflective walls have even been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. The shop is credited as being the only structure on planet Earth to be completely covered—wallpapered, if you will—in compact disks. Frustrated with the ceaseless flow of Internet Service Provider CDs in his mailbox, Dukatt decided to go one better than making lemonade from lemons. Dukatt plastered the outside walls of his shop with 1000 of these CDs, turning his funky shop into a psychedelic experience. Walk by at the right moment and you can catch the dazzling New Mexico morning sun shattered into literally thousands of rainbows. At night, Dukatt’s store has become a hangout for tourists, who take advantage of the splintered prismatics that result from the flash of a camera. Locals take haunting pictures of themselves in front of the store, or pose their muscle cars and pickups on the sidewalk, using the CDs to create a hallucinogenic backdrop. Alongside the CDs on the walls, Dukatt ‘71 boasts license plates from all over the map, from different countries, different states and different decades. The diverse selection makes the license plate wall yet another tourist attraction. Of course, the outside wall is only half of Dukatt 71’s charm. Inside you’ll find one of New Mexico’s largest collections of tie-dyed clothing, as well as novelty t-shirts and other fun items. Continuing the eclectic pattern of his store, Dukatt also has a large collection of tropical fish waiting for good homes. Finally, Dukatt is a master printer. Signs, bumper stickers, business cards - if you need something printed, Dukatt can do it. Dukatt ‘71 is easy to find; it is right down the road from the towns only traffic light. After you investigate this unique shop, take a few moments to drink in the time capsule feeling of Truth or Consequences itself. Whether it’s hot baths, 1960’s era department stores or the nearby Vietnam Memorial Wall at Veteran’s Park, Truth or Consequences - and Dukatt ‘71 - make for an interesting stop off Interstate 25. And if you should happen to bump into aliens who need directions, be sure to point them towards Jeff Dukatt‘s shop. He is happy to be of service, no matter what planet you call home. | 
