The Marfa.Org ®@ŋd¤m‡zЄ®

The Language of Branding, Prada Marfa
Little Prada in the Desert
Red Balloons, Photos by Allison V. Smith
$1,000 Cowboy Hat: Big Money for a 'Giant' Star
Former Lannan Writer in Residence Ana Castillo
Flickr - Images tagged "Chinati"
Galleri Urbane Winter '06 Show - Call for Entries

For the past three years, Barry Whistler Gallery has presented the work of it's artists inside the old bus depot on Highland Street during the Open House. This year they plan to feature Ann Stautberg's Big Bend photographs and Dorothy Antoinette LaSelle's minimal craypas and watercolors from the 1960's. They return October 8th - 9th.

Prada Marfa, Wrap Your Head Around This One

I've been sitting on this thread because I'm not sure how to process it. You may have heard by now that Saturday, October 1st, is the opening of an installation art project called Prada Marfa. The artists Elmgreen & Dragset state, "The work will be located on the outskirts of Valentine, Texas near Marfa on desolate ranching land with no other visible trace of civilization. As one drives toward the artwork it will appear to be a large minimalist sculpture, as one gets closer it will look like a luxury boutique where a display of Fall 2005 high-heel Prada shoes and bags will be seen through the store front windows... [It]blends into the exciting historical structures of the area in which it will be placed... As we purposefully will not preserve Prada Marfa, it will eventually become a ruin so that even in a future decayed state it will remain relevant to the time in which it was made..."

Talking amongst friends, a common reaction seems to be one of mixed confusion - uncertain whether to laugh or cry. From the website materials, it is unclear what the sociopolitical stance is (is there one?) Is this a commentary on the frivolity of fashion? Is it contrasting the accoutrements of urban life vs. the necessities of the rural? Or is it a simple suggestion that high fashion is art? It seems that a project pre-loaded with this much potential controversy would come with a clearer agenda. According to Fashion Week Daily, Prada's corporate art division, Fondazione Prada, is partially funding the piece. It is uncertain if this is correct, but if it is then what does that suggest? Maybe the opening will reveal the secrets. What are your thoughts?

The Open House Weekend Carpool Thread

Arranging a ride to and from Marfa for the Chinati Open House weekend is easier said than done for many. Every year we hear about someone looking for a ride from Houston, the El Paso or Midland airport, Alpine or wherever. So, a reader (thanks Dan) suggested this topic so that anyone needing a ride (or looking to share their ride) can arrange it here at Marfa.Org. Simply click on "comments" below and post your needs. I suggest that you list the basics (when, where, how many, etc.) and the endless favors you'll do.

Galleri Urbane, Open House Weekend Docket

Galleri Urbane / Marfa announces their lineup for the Open House weekend. The show will be centered on a solo exhibit by former Chinati artist in residence Gail Peter Borden, ”SHALLOW SPACES”. As both an artist and architect Gail’s work has always revolved around space. Its production, depiction and experience are essential to our perception and interaction with our world.

In the main gallery, there will be new works by Jason Willaford, Peter Voshefski, Mike Slack, Sarah Spangler, and Candace Brecino.

"Encaustic Paintings" by Marfa artist Jason Willaford, a continuum of the "Descending Order" series. Jason's paintings convey sublime images evocotive of our surroundings.
Reduction is addition, his canvas thick with appliqué of encaustic follow a systemic path: apply, form, and render. In some paintings a tracery of line is incised leaving a gesture of this practice, where a millimeter of depth transforms the image something other than painting .The subtlety of the relief effect creates a transitional effect for reflection to delve upon. James Bae, Big Bend Sentinel

Albuquerque artist Peter Voshefski's paintings are concerned with the subtle pleasure and anxiety in the specific moments and places that inhabit life’s experiences. These things evoke the questions: What is here? What is missing? What is desired? In this spirit Peter paints with explicit and implicit elements of space and time, and a language of desire, longing, history, and mythology.
Peter Voshefski hones his acrylic paintings with a fine edge of ink and his simple subject matter with existential irony, powerful graphic sensibility, gifted composition and some damned funny thoughts. Santa Fe Reporter, October 2004

Los Angeles artist Mike Slack will exhibit a new series of large scale photographic prints based on his original Polaroid images. Slack’s work as a photographer begins with what is readily available and ends with the manmade and the familiar, especially if it involves bright artificial colors and harsh sunlight. The resulting image either describes the strangeness of human space, or refers to the limitations and charms of the image.

Photographer Sarah Spangler of Sante Fe presents a series of stereo slides and text intimately presented in handheld 3D viewers displayed on shelves. Her work excavates neglected parcels of land in search of cultural artifacts. A battleship game, a toy vacuum cleaner, plastic flowers—each piece is embedded with sociological information embued by each reader's own past experiences.

Texas artist Candace Briceno has incorporated the painting background and fiber aesthetics with the desire to physically involve the audience with sensual and tactile surfaces. The work highlights those moments when we are entranced by the outdoors.
"I use nature images such as flowers, grass, tree trunks and leaves and sew “painting sculptures” where one might experience the sensations of smell, touch and their own memory in my work."

when: Sept 30th - Nov 31st 2005
where: GALLERI URBANE / MARFA

Marfa Sector Border Patrol Corruption

A former Border Patrol agent was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison Wednesday for allowing couriers carrying illegal drugs to slip through the Sierra Blanca checkpoint without inspection, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas announced. The former agent, Aldo Manuel Erives, pleaded guilty on May 6, 2005, to one count of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute it. Erives admitted that for two days beginning Sept. 17, 2004, he schemed with his brother Jose Lehi Erives and former Marfa Sector border agent Robert Espino to allow more than five kilograms of cocaine to pass through the checkpoint in exchange for more than $5,000.

Two other Marfa Sector Border Patrol agents, David Garcia and Jesus Delgado, also pleaded guilty to being involved in the plot. The four co-conspirators face sentences of up to five years in federal prison. All pleaded guilty in May 2005; their sentencing hearings are scheduled within the next month.

MISD Free Public Give Away

Did you read the public notice? Marfa Independant School District will be holding a free give away of miscellaneous surplus items on Thursday, September 22. It will be held at the Blackwell School, on Waco between Kelly and Abbot, starting at 9 in the morning. The piles of rusting furniture strewn about the yard are surely part of the give away.
And maybe there's more... This will be a great improvement to this part of town to have the Blackwell School cleaned up a bit. Does anyone know if there are plans for the school?

The Marfa.Org ®@ŋd¤m‡zЄ®

Tommy Lee Jones' West TX Movie Gets Distribution
- Jones: "I'll be meeting a gaggle of French journalists in Marfa. They want to see the country where we shot the film."
For Those Of You Flying Your Learjet In For The Weekend
Live Auction: Judd Etching Aquatint Signed & Numbered

Too Late For Accomodations? Try eBay!

Area Man Makes Room for Art Pilgrims

So you waited 'till the last minute again? If you don't want to go the route I did when I first came to town for Chinati Open House weekend (i.e. sleeping in a tent at the trailer park), and you're not interested in making the trek back to Alpine each night, then gather up 7 of your closest friends, crack your wallets, and jump on eBay.

5 days and 4 nights can be yours for the starting bid of $1200.00. Apparently 10% of the winning bid will be donated to the Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief, but it is against eBay policy to allow piggy-backing charitable causes to capitolistic schemes. (Although if you read between the lines, our brave seller won't let a little thing like rules get in the way of his benevolence.)

I'm going to keep my eye on this auction as it is a bellweather for... for something:

Here we have a comfortable 2 story GEODESIC DOME house in beautiful Marfa Texas. Sorry I had to relist this item a couple hours ago. Ebay has some sort of issue with c*h*a*r*i*t*y... Anyway, this lovely house is located on the corner of North Gonzalez and West 2nd street across the street from a beautiful little park. House is available from Thursday October 6 thru Monday October 10. See Yo la Tengo play for free @ the old Capri Hotel on Saturday night. See John Chamberlain and Tony Feher speak. Go to tens of parties and openings. Biggest art weekend of the year. All lodging (Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts, Motels etc.) is reserved within 100 miles. This may be your only chance to stay in town if you haven't made arrangements yet. 8 people maximum please... This is a fun house with a spacious gravel/cactus yard. Bidding starts @$1200, that's $300 per night... I'll be in town on open house weekend, so you can call me on my cell if any problems arise.

The Marfa.Org ®@ŋd¤m‡zЄ®

Support Architecture For Humanity's Katrina Relief
Turnaround: City Council praises Sauceda
Interesting Collection of Old Marfa Pics on Ebay: 1 2 3 4
Architectural Abstractions By Todd Eberle

Confuse the masses and amuse the initiated with your new I Block Judd bumper sticker.

Brewster County Freecycle, Includes Marfa
"The Brewster County Freecycle Network is open to all Brewster County, Texas residents (including the cities of Alpine, Marathon, and the immediate outlying cities of Fort Davis, and Marfa, who want to "recycle" that special something rather than throw it away. Whether it's a chair, a fax machine, chicken wire, a piano or an old door, feel free to post it. Or maybe you're looking to acquire something yourself! Nonprofit groups are also welcome to participate too! One constraint: everything posted must be free. As we are including the entire county in this current network, PLEASE be sure you are willing to travel to the location of the item you wish to receive before agreeing to take it." Click here.