It's already Thursday, which means I'm WAY behind on writing this post. Beehiver Blake on Monday attached a nice comment to my unrelated tidbit about Joan Rivers winning "Celebrity Apprentice." (Yep, definitely the most culturally sophisticated thing I wrote all week.) Blake wrote:
I sure thought that article on the Texas town in Sunday's Spotlight section was super cool. (sorry, off-subject, but folks should really dig it out, if they still have yesterday's paper around.)
Thanks, Blake. That would be my Sunday Spotlight column on the peculiar little town of Marfa, Texas, population 2,000, which I visited on my recent vacation. It's a vibrant, bustling arts community that reminded me that you don't have to live in a big city to find an artsy feel.
Anyway, I wanted to share my photo in color of the art installation "Prada, Marfa," above, which ran in a black and white version in the print edition of the paper, plus a few other shots of mine that I took in Marfa. You can find those additional photos after the break.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
MORE MARFA PICS:
Marfa sits in the middle of bleak but beautiful West Texas.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
At "Prada Marfa," a site-specific art installation, visitors leave their own offerings of shoes at the front door.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
A view of Marfa's downtown courthouse and water tower.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of Marfa's contemporary gallery spaces -- this one attached to a very cool thrift store.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The lobby of the historic El Paisano Hotel. You wouldn't find a stuffed head like this in a Holiday Inn Express.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We met this guy, a local rancher (and icon for the local film festival) named Ty, in the neighborhood bar.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's Ty and friends.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Speaking of bars: a view of Marfa's local watering hole.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marfa is mostly old -- a mix of functional buildings and restored galleries and restaurants.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can't beat the grandeur of a wide-open West Texas sky.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My brother drove through there and he said he saw some weird lights.
I went through Marfa on my move back from Texas. It's a fantastically peculiar place. From the "Marfa lights" that mysteriously appear in the hills at sunset and the Mexican nationals on burros carrying traditional packs to the high brow art at the Chinati Foundation founded by artist Donald Judd. It's a trip. Tumbleweeds and a Claus Oldenburg sculpture -- it's a visual mix like no other.
beautiful pics!!!
I went back and re-read the article.
I like the headline:
"Artsy Texas Town Can Give Fresno Inspiration"
---and it's not a large town, it's not a rich cosmopolitan metropolis.
It does show how a group of creative folk can have a profound affect on their environment, on their town.
The article mentions having affects on zoning laws.
The article mentions an absence of Walmart.
{the argument: 'Is Walmart Sucking Us Dry Or Saving Us a Few Nickels?' runs on I'm sure)
Anyways, I do hope that Fresnans reading the article are inspired.
Inspired to make change, or to keep on keepin' on, if they are already involved in things.
Sometimes we need to step outside of our community to see how it can be done and more importantly that it CAN be done.
Thanks for the article.
You're making me homesick! Absolutely love the way you captured the Marfa experience.
I enjoyed your article on Marfa. I happened upon it about 10 years ago with my daughter. We were moving her back to CA from Austin , TX.
She wanted me to see where she had worked on a movie in Big Bend ,TX.
I am disappointed that you didn't mention the huge minimalist art installation at the Donald Judd Center (Chinati Institute) which is located at an old Army Calvary Fort. They have put some very edgy installations there. One of the barracks was transformed into a neon light work, (the whole interior), and one barracks was the recreation of a Russian school room before the revolution. It looks as though it had been abandoned and the students just left everything as they were using it. The room is constantly evolving due to the weather and creatures which have taken up residence... But these were just a small portion of the art center.
@Bino: I did see the weird lights. They're called the Marfa Lights, and the Texas transportation department even built a deluxe roadside viewing station so tourists can look for them. I'm not sure if what I saw was really a mystery -- to me, they looked like gently pulsing, sometimes moving lights far in the distance -- but it sure was fun being out there under the enormous Texas midnight sky, crammed with stars, and waiting for them. There is a ton of information online about the Marfa Lights, including lots of conflicting theories on what they could be. I killed a couple of hours just wading through Web sites and reading competing explanations.
Hi Donald, I have a small photo challenge on my blog. I'd figure it be fun for anybody who is interested in photography or the art of the central valley in general.
http://israelfloresphotography.blogspot.com/
Nice pics. I don't believe that marfa lights can be seen but in my next vacation surely visit this place. Texas is a good place. Don't miss the sun-soaked sands of the Bombay beach. for more details refer Marfa Lights