The Marfa.Org ®@ŋd¤m‡zЄ®

Cost for a piece of quiet is on the rise
Fort Worth Star Telegram "These people have come in and renovated properties; they've made the town look grand," Livingston said. "They are contributing so much with theater and the arts. It's really quite extraordinary."...... "I think the fiber of the community is being lost," Martinez said. "I think we're losing ground in economic development. Downtown looks a whole lot better than it used to, but I see a trend developing. We've lost Rio Grande Electrical Co-Op to Alpine, and the last remaining car dealership is moving to Alpine..."

Land of the Giant (thanks Rob)
Guardian Unlimited "James Dean made his last movie in Marfa, Texas, 50 years ago. Today it's a magnet for modern art fans." ... [ The Thunderbird] epitomises what might be called the new Marfa aesthetic - Judd-inspired white walls with flat-screen TVs and pecan furniture, softened by western touches such as cowhide rugs on the floor..."

Rush to Art (thanks Rob)
Liberation.fr Vingt chaussures droites Prada ont été volées dans une installation en plein désert au Texas. Qui a fait le coup? Vandales? Cow-boy? Marfa, à 45 kilomètres de là, abrite une communauté d'artistes depuis les années 70. Translation here.

Architects Selected for New Inde/Jacobs' Gallery

The new Inde/Jacobs art gallery is to be built on Highway 90 in the current location of George's Garage (208 E. San Antonio). Gallery owners, Vilis Inde and Tom Jacobs, hope to have the new building completed by Open House 2006. From their website: "Claesson Koivisto Rune of Stockholm Sweden has designed the permanent gallery space which will open in the fall of 2006. Their design adds a lively twist to the minimalist aesthetic of Marfa." The architects, Claesson Koivisto Rune, are well known for their multi-discipline approach to design; encompassing architecture, interiors, furniture, and product design.

Partner Eero Koivisto, in an interview with DesignBoom.com, advises young architects to "follow your heart.. follow your ideas about what you want to do." He continues, "I teach a lot and I tell my students to try and find your own language... and try if there is a trend going on, and there is always a trend in any time, try to avoid doing anything in that particular trend that is popular right now, because if you avoid it you will shape your own language - which is really the whole ideal of this work."

A few samples of their work are shown below.

The Marfa.Org ®@ŋd¤m‡zЄ®

Lone Star Lawyer: Dick DeGuerin (reg. req'd)
During his last year in law school at the University of Texas, Dick DeGuerin drove to San Antonio and applied for a job with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. His interview went well, he believed, until ... "Have you ever been arrested?" the agent asked, fixing him with a level gaze. DeGuerin wasn't under oath, but his father, a lawyer, had taught him to be truthful, and he didn't dare lie to the feds. For all he knew, J. Edgar Hoover already had a file on him. "Yes," DeGuerin replied...

Thunderbird is Go. (Wallpaper* review)
Ex-Shorthorn Coach Ward: Carpetbagging Predator?
Minimalism Then and Now
Behold: art-itecture

Presidio County the Fifth Most Gay-friendly?
According to the Austin Chronicle, only one county (Travis) voted against the Texas Marraige Amendment. After Travis, the next most progressive county in this state is our neighbor Hays, a full 18 percentage points behind (58% approval). Following Hays were Brewster (64%), Dallas (66%), Presidio (67%), El Paso (68%), and Bexar (69%). Supposedly gay-friendly Harris clocked in at 72%. Tarrant Co. was 77%.
Of those top ones, only Brewster and Presidio out in West Texas are truly rural counties with no spillover from nearby cities; we assume their votes are affected by liberal nature lovers attracted to Big Bend and the art community that has developed in Marfa.

Willie Be My Valentine, MPR Benefit Concert

Marfa Public Radio announces "Willie Be My Valentine," a Willie Nelson benefit concert scheduled for Valentine's Day, February 14, 2006. In 1972, Willie played at a homecoming dance at Sul Ross University. He will now perform there again in February at the University's Pete Gallego Center in Alpine, Texas.

Marfa Public Radio will be the region's first radio station to carry National Public Radio and local public programming. Launching in February 2006, the station will cover a 10,000 square mile area which includes the Big Bend and Trans-Pecos regions of Far West Texas. Robert Walker, President and CEO of Matinee Radio, LLC, which currently holds the FCC license, stated that, "The goal is to provide quality public radio to a community that currently has only one commercial radio station and no local television." Until then, http://www.marfapublicradio.org will keep the listeners and supporters posted on their progress and the Willie Nelson event, while providing options for community input, membership, and on-line donations. Tickets will go on sale December 1st.

The Marfa.Org ®@ŋd¤m‡zЄ®

Willie Nelson to perform in Alpine
"According to Katy Hackerman, president of Marfa Public Radio, Nelson has agreed to play the concert as a fundraiser and benefit for the fledgling Marfa Public Radio station..." We've got our fingers crossed!

Council Sponsors Texas Mountain Art Seminar
Art in Marfa
Marfa Sector K-9 wins national award
Pictures of Yo La Tengo, Live in Marfa

Screening of Townes Van Zandt Biography

Ballroom Marfa is bringing the critically acclaimed biographical film, BE HERE TO LOVE ME, to Marfa prior to its North American theatrical release on December 6. Screenings: November 19, 8pm and November 20, 2pm at the Goode-Crowley Theatre. The film screenings are free to the public.

Director, Margaret Brown focuses on Van Zandt's decision to live his life for his art - to "blow everything off...get a guitar and go!" BE HERE TO LOVE ME is an artful, expertly directed portrait of Van Zandt's life and career and features Willie Nelson, Steve Shelly of Sonic Youth, Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, Guy Clark, and Kris Kristofferson, among many others.

Brown says, "Guy [Clark] told me that Townes' songs work because of negative space. It's the holes you leave, he said. I wanted Be Here To Love Me to work in the same way - not by spelling out every detail of his life, but by presenting details that are often more telling than dates or facts. By juxtaposing voiceover with performance, traveling in time to present effect before cause, and letting the audience make up their own mind about whether Townes' decision to drop his family and most trappings of normal life to "get a guitar and go" was worth it, I felt that this would create a more emotionally true film."

Townes Van Zandt is widely recognized as a true songwriter's songwriter. Van Zandt had a profound impact on generations of musicians from Bob Dylan to Norah Jones, yet he avoided the commercial success enjoyed by many of his own fans. A musician whose brillance and lyrical insight made him popular amongst true fans and other musicians. Having released dozens of albums since the mid 1960, Van Zandt, who died in 1997, solidified his place in America's musical pantheon.