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Razzle-dazzle 'em, Former Chinati a.i.r Erwin Redl
[WFAA.com] He was an artist-in-residence at the Chinati Foundation in Marfa during the fall of 2003, during which he created an ambitious, walk-through installation with more than 700 blue LED bulbs. Conduit gallery assistant Danette Dufilho was bowled over by the work and, together with owner Nancy Whitenack, convinced Mr. Redl to do a piece here [at Conduit Gallery in Dallas].

‘Giant’ Debut for New Exhibition
[SMU Daily] The 1956 legendary epic film “Giant,” which has been deemed “the national film of Texas,” was celebrated at SMU this week. A preview reception and panel discussion served as precursor events to the new exhibit “On Location: Sketches of the movie ‘Giant’ by Ed Bearden,” located in the Hamon Arts Library. This exhibit celebrates the 50th anniversary of the continually praised film...

TXCO Plans Drilling in Marfa Basin
"We continue to be excited about the potential for new production and reserves as we move ahead to further develop multiple plays. Separately, we're working on our new Marfa Basin acreage in West Texas, which is prospective for the Barnett and Woodford shales, and expect to announce drilling and exploration plans soon."

An Unexpected Light, Dan Flavin
[New Statesman] When Dan Flavin abandoned paint for fluorescent tubes, he turned galleries into glowing cathedrals. On a dank January day, the concrete walkways of the South Bank seem designed to depress even the hardiest visitor. Inside the Hayward Gallery, however, this gloomy winter world is transformed. Dan Flavin, who came to prominence as a master of minimalism when this uncompromising hulk of concrete was conceived, performs the unlikely feat of turning the brutal edifice into a glowing receptacle for his art...

On the Screen at the Library

Tonight there is a showing although the Title escapes me. 8pm.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, 8pm The Constant Gardener (2005)
click here for the trailer
Based on John le Carr's best-seller, this tale of political intrigue centers on Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes), a member of the British High Commission based in Nairobi. When his wife (Rachel Weisz) is murdered, Justin refuses to leave the matter to his superiors and begins his own investigation. Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz. Director: Fernando Meirelles

Thursday, Feb 2, 8pm Badlands (1973)
Friday, Feb 3, 8 pm (tentative) Days of Heaven (1978)
Saturday, Feb 4, 8 pm (tentative) The Thin Red Line (1998)

Unchain A Dog Month / Marfa.Org Traffic

I just received this insightful message via the "Send Us a Scoop" hotline:

Hey Mark, You may be surprised to learn as I was that there are organizations as well as entire months dedicated to educating folks about the cruelty of chaining dogs up. I have certainly seen the cruel practice in Marfa and want to pass this link along to owners and others. http://www.helpinganimals.com/feat/UnchainDog06/

Best, Andy

PS. How many hits do you get on this site?

Andy, thank you for the tip. January is already on the way out, but any month is a good month to unchain a dog. Backyard dogs have it tough this time of year and some people don't seem to understand that dogs are susceptible to frostbite, exposure, and dehydration the same way us humans are.

And for the hits... we get a LOT. We've been steadily growing readership since we began and now we're already getting about 5000 unique visits a month. We are now the number 2 search result on Google for "marfa" (the Chamber's site is number 1). We're showing on average 36,000 pages a month, and for the "hits" - over 100,000 per month. So, this is a good time to thank all of you wonderful "subscribers" and the Marfa Book Co. too for making this possible.

Mark

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Sweet Art Ball 2006
This annual fundraiser was initiated by the Board of Directors of the Marfa Studio of the Arts. In 2004 over 100 MSA supporters came to the first annual “Sweet Art Ball” at the historic Paisano Hotel. The Paisano Ballroom was dripping with floating hearts and balloons as the guests devoured a huge buffet of the best desserts from the area. Deemed a great success (“best party I have ever been to”). Last year (2005) the event ended with much the same results….. a wonderful evening. This year the Sweet Art Ball (3rd annual) is scheduled on Saturday, February 11, 2006. Reservations are now being taken for this evening, for more information click here.

Alpine Border Patrol Grabs $2.3m in Cocaine
In Pictures: Dan Flavin Retrospective
Strip Tease, Dan Flavin

On the Screen at the Library

Tonight, 8 pm at the MPL -
Scenes from a Marriage (Theatrical Version) (1974)
Scener ur ett äktenskap
Widely considered one of Ingmar Bergman's best, this intense drama follows the marriage of Marianne (Liv Ullmann) and Johan (Erland Josephson) as it deteriorates. When Marianne learns of Johan's infatuation with another woman, the relationship unravels, yet through it all, a deep, underlying love keeps the couple connected. This is the theatrical version of the film.

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Art at the Extremes [Seattle Times]
Amid the jostling crowd in the contemporary galleries at the Museum of Modern Art, people are yammering on cellphones, others wander blank-eyed, glued to their audio-tours... They don't seem to notice, or care about, the wrenching subject of their backdrop: two dismembered corpses... A month earlier and half a country away, on a sprawling 340-acre former military base in West Texas, I turn up my collar against the wind and stare with a few friends across a silent field at massive concrete forms silhouetted against the sky. A scattering of converted artillery sheds and barracks along the path ahead of us hold sculptural installations that represent one artist's enduring vision... Like the Museum of Modern Art and the Barnes Collection, the installations at the Chinati Foundation are an important altar of modern art. But at Marfa, there is an advantage: You see art as the artists intended for it to be seen, in a context that highlights the work's internal rhythm and integrity. Here art that might seem difficult or obscure plunked in a museum group show suddenly comes to life, installed in a progression of the artist's own design. full article

The Non-Manhattan Project [New York Magazine]
Tubular Belles, Dan Flavin [Telegraph]

HWY 90 Gallery Exhibit: Photojournalist Alberto Tomas Halpern

Work by Marfa photojournalist Alberto Tomas Halpern will be on display at HWY 90 Gallery in Marfa from January 14 through February 25. The gallery will host a reception for the artist, open to the public, on Saturday, January 14 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Halpern, currently a senior at Marfa High School, has been photographer for The Big Bend Sentinel newspaper since 2002. The exhibit will include photographs that have appeared in the newspaper, as well as others Halpern has taken in West Texas, Mexico, Austin and New York City.

Halpern’s interest in photography began several years ago when “my parents put a camera in my hand — and changed my life,” Halpern said. His first work for the newspaper was photographing MHS football games. Although he still enjoys photographing sports, a budding interest in social issues and politics has grown to a passion that now serves as the driving force for his life and his work.

Halpern said that his work in Marfa has taught him to empathize with his subjects: Because Marfa is a small town, he knows most of the people he photographs. As photographer for the Sentinel, he has documented a wide range of human emotions, from the poignancy of prom night dances to the high emotions of city council meetings.

Halpern believes photojournalism serves a crucial role in society by documenting important events and educating the public. He particularly admires James Nachtwey, an internationally renown photojournalist whose photographs of trouble spots such as Kosovo and Rwanda have helped bring the international community’s attention to the suffering of people in those regions. Halpern said he would welcome the opportunity to be on the scene wherever trouble arises, contributing to the contemporary and historical record of world events and, when necessary, exposing atrocities for current and future generations.

The gallery is located at 407 W. San Antonio St. (HWY 90), across from the Judd Block. More information about the gallery can be found at www.hwy90gallery.com.

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Too Much or Too Little, Texas Rain
[FW Star Telegram] Drought is always with us. Much of our state, after all, lies in the Chihuahuan Desert... We think mostly of West Texas when we think drought. But West Texas is hard to define. Texas historian Walter Prescott Webb once said the 98th meridian was where the landscape changed in Texas. West of that line people's lives were affected more by the weather, he said, and it etched its marks on their characters and culture... The actual line that separates West Texas from the rest of the state seems to be more elusive than Webb's 98th meridian. Many people believe that West Texas is beyond towns such as Breckenridge, Throckmorton and Albany. Some believe that West Texas is more attitude than geography.

Anne Ponder Dickson of Jeff Davis County wrote of her memories in My Texas, an online feature of the Texas State Historical Association. "The 1950s plunged Marfa and the Davis Mountains area into an unrecoverable drought," she wrote. "Ranchers were desperate to protect their grass by getting rid of the competing wildlife -- antelope, mostly. Ranchers warned, 'Come get these antelope or we'll kill them all." The state came up with a plan. Workers dropped nets from low-flying aircraft onto the startled antelope below. "In a hideous scene, the panicked antelope..." read on

Marfa Shorthorns XL T-Shirt on eBay
Local Marfan auctioneer on a roll with Shorthorn apparel; successfully selling short sleeve and long sleeve purple t-shirts at the big auction website. Do they come in L?

Marfa Dog Trainer Earns Highest Certifications

Kathie Compton of Marfa has joined the ranks fo internationally recognized trainers, veterinarians, behaviorists and authors as a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant.

Certified dog behavior consultants are uniquely qualified practitioners with expertise in evaluating, managing and modifying a wide range of challenging canine behaviors. They help build strong relationships between the human and canine members of a household, provide advice on choosing a dog and teach behavior training classes. Kathie is one of only 150 trainers worldwide to earn this certification through a rigorous, interactive approval process with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Kathie also earned the highest level of recognition through the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers ( CCPDT ). She is one of only 940 trainers in the US who have earned the title of Certified Pet Dog Trainer. She achieved this credential by demontrating her knowledge and experience in dog training at the CCPDT testing center in Colorado in November.

mARFa Dog Training
100 W. Third Street
Marfa, TX 79843
432-729-4292