The Marfa.Org ®@ŋd¤m‡zЄ®

The Marfa.Org Photo Gallery (work in progress)
Marfa Library Architects Complete Award-winning L.A. House
The Greatest Modern Buyer Of All
Dan Flavin: A Retrospective Opens at Modern Art Museum
What About Bulb? [Flavin]
Low-income Housing Statistics* for Marfa
Commissioners Seeking Funds for U.S. 67 Relief Road
Big Bend Archeology Study Receives Big Grant
Sentinel Updated February 24

Can’t We All Just Get Along?

There seems to be a recent, and somewhat late discovery, of Marfa by much of the glossy-mag type media. Possibly sensing their tardiness onto the “scene”, they tend to over-exaggerate the size of the arts community and the growth potential of the town as if Marfa is going to be the next Santa Fe (it’s not, see here.) For those of us that appreciate both sides of Marfa’s personality, the rural serenity and the arts as well, these fashion-forward articles come off as pompous and stuffy. They wouldn’t so much in Houston or Dallas, but against the quiet backdrop of the Marfa landscape, it’s enough to make you feel icky.

On the other hand, all the railings against artists (and the left in general) at the Marfa Times seem equally misplaced. Texas Monthly and Flaunt just don’t get Marfa, but you can’t hold everyone that comes to town for art, design, and architecture responsible for their misdirected stories. Artists, gallery owners, and book peddlers haven’t harmed the town, but closed-minded isolationists just may.

Click on the "comments" link below to see some reponses submited to us that were originally intended to be posted at Marfa Times.

It's Not The Dog, It's The Owner

[Here’s the first news from the “Send Us A Scoop” form, looks like it works.]
This just in: A dog running around freely in Vizcaino Park with a leash around his neck is not technically “on leash”. It seems this scenario was the cute response of recent park visitors to the requests of two Sheriff’s Deputies. But alas, as of Valentine's Day, this technicality (that of the leash actually being attached to someone) is now specifically covered in the revised law passed by the Commissioner’s Court. See the written law below.
Say it isn’t so! Even Marfa has a leash law? Then it’s official, the days of dogs and humankind playing together in public are officially over. If there was ever a town where a dog looked perfectly natural “walking himself”, it was Marfa. But until they learn to read, I think we’ll see a few regulars still making the rounds.
Next best response, “Yeah, he’s on a vocal leash.”

STATE OF TEXAS § COUNTY OF PRESIDIO § ORDER
WHEREAS, this Order is adopted in accordance with Texas Health and Safety Code §822; and WHEREAS, this Order applies in the unincorporated areas of the County; and BE IT ALSO ORDERED that this Order may be enforced to comply with Health and Safety Code, §822.042, which mandates that a dog who bites someone is considered a dangerous dog; and BE IT ALSO ORDERED that pursuant to §822.041, an Owner means a person who owns or has custody or control of the dog; and BE IT ALSO ORDERED that custody or control in a public county area such as Vizcaino Park means the dog must be on a leash in the immediatecontrol of the owner (the leash must be attached in some manner to the owner) so as to insure that the dog is not allowed to run loose; and BE IT ALSO ORDERED that violation of this order is a Class C misdemeanor. ORDERED AND ENTERED ON RECORD on this, 14th day of February, 2005, at the Regular Meeting of the Presidio County Commissioners Court.
ATTEST: Jerry C. Agan, Presidio County Judge. Brenda M. Silva, Presidio County Clerk. Felipe Cordero, Commissioner, Pct. 1. Eloy Aranda, Commissioner, Pct. 2. Carlos Armendariz, Commissioner, Pct. 3. Danny Watts, Commissioner, Pct. 4

The Marfa.Org ®@ŋd¤m‡zЄ®

Marfa Public Radio KRTS will Serve Region This Year
More MPR Here
A New Approach to Factory Art
Dan Flavin (Ripped) on Fifth Avenue
Current Marfa Weather
Old Marfa Photos (6)
Random Gliding Photos, 2001

What's In Store For 2010?

Everyone knows there's been a lot of change in Marfa over the last few years for better or worse. The most observable changes are those related to environment; remodeled houses, updated storefronts, new businesses, and the like. But what about our changing populace? Viscerally, we all sense that Marfa is undergoing a major metamorphosis, but is it the kind of change that we'll see on paper? In other words, how much of the difference is related to tourism versus new town citizens? The next United States Census will come around in 2010 and it has me wondering what exactly did Marfa's numbers look like in 2000. Has it really changed all that much? Some numbers of note from Marfa's 2000 Census Data include: 2121 total residents, with a median age of 38.7, 69.9% "Hispanic or Latino", 29% "White alone", median home value of $49,000 (that's going to move!), 24.4% College degree,... more

The Marfa.Org r/\nDo^^!zEr

Agnes Martin, Icon of minimalism dies last Thursday
Recycling effort moves ahead
Jewelry maker turns glass into wearable art
ebay Search: Marfa
ebay Search: Donald Judd
Ballroom opening showcases two artists
Marfa's little neighbor, Lobo - Photo album
Judd at the Tate Modern

A Local's Diatribe to Texas Monthly

Interesting and very thought-provoking perspective on Texas Monthly's article about Marfa (and of the state of the town in general.) This was submitted to TM (anonymously?) but unfortunately never went to print. [in the forum] [found this at the Marfa Times blog.]

Wikipedia Contributions - "Donald Judd" and "Marfa"

Have you ever visited wikipedia.org? - it is a fabulous "user-edited" encylopedia that anyone can contribute to. The site has information on everything, I mean everything. There is a page on Judd, but it needs ALOT of work. See what you can do to help. Go check it out, and let us know what you added here!
I've done some contributing myself to the Marfa Texas entry. I added the whole section on the Arts Community. Still lots of room for improvement...

Interesting Marfa Road Trip Photo Collection, 2003

If you like roadtrips (or at least roadtrip photos), you'll enjoy this album that I stumbled across. It is a comprehensive collection of pics; art, town, mexico, alpine, "becky", giant, etc. Enjoyable amateur photography at its best.