The Marfa.Org ®@ŋd¤m‡zЄ®

Exploration Co. Updates Operations in Marfa Basin
Recent Additions to the Marfa.Org Gallery
Catching a Falling Star
Green [Party] Machine (Mayor Lanman mention)
Prosperity Sets the Tone at London Auctions (NYT)

Oliver Croy Show at Locker Plant

What you'll see is what you get. Serious.

Work by Oliver Croy, Chinati Artist in Residence, will be on display at the Locker Plant from June 29th to July 1. The opening will be June 29th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. East Oak Street, Marfa, Texas.

Oliver Croy, who lives in Berlin, is a graduate of the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. It just so happens that in 1993, Croy discovered over 350 model buildings (387 to be exact) in a bric-a-brac shop in Vienna. This was the genesis of his project Sondermodelle, consisting of several exhibitions, lectures, a book, and a website. Croy has worked on a film-trilogy Counter-Communities. Past exhibitions include 3 fireplaces and 2 bathtubs at the MAK-Schindler House, Los Angeles, and The built, the unbuilt and the unbuildable at Overgaden, Copenhagen, both in 2004.

Gliders Soar at National Soaring Contest

Burt and Kathie Compton of Marfa Gliders are hosting a national soaring contest at Marfa Airport this week. Marfa hosted several contests in the 1960's, and the 1970 World Soaring Contest (the first ever in the USA.) The pilots and staff for this 2006 World Class National Contest are coming from all over the United States, and will enjoy the sights and sounds of Marfa for the duration of the 10 day event.

The pilots are John Byrd of Fort Davis, TX, J.C. Hauchecorne of Seattle, WA, Tom McKnight of Midland, TX, Francois Pin of Knoxville, TN, Frank Reid of Jefferson, SC, Jayne Reid of Jefferson, SC, Bill Snead of Georgetown, TX, Patrick Tuckey of Fort Worth, TX, and Michael Westbrook of Midlothian, TX.

The Competition Director is Charlie Spratt of Charlotte, NC, the scorer is Rick Sheppe of Post Mills, Vermont, and the line chief is Dennis Wright of Hobbs, NM. The towplane pilots are Roger Amis and Burt Compton of Marfa.

Of the current pilots, John Byrd and Bill Snead flew at Marfa at the legendary 1969 Nationals, featured in the Robert Drew movie "The Sunship Game". Burt Compton was the chase crew for his father at that contest, which had over 80 gliders entered, the largest fleet ever assembled for a national soaring event.

The motorless gliders climb by circling upwards in the rising thermal updrafts that are exceptionally strong in the Marfa area. Then they race around several 150 to 250 mile triangular courses ranging from Van Horn to Presidio to Marathon, up over the Davis Mountains and back to Marfa. A GPS data logger onboard proves to the scorer that the pilot flew the entire course. The pilot with the fastest average speed is awarded the most points for the day, and after 9 racing days the pilot with the most cumulative speed points is declared "National Champion".

The current contest began June 20 and ends June 29. You can watch the gliders being launched around 1:30 pm, at the airport, or visit the Marfa Gliders website.

MPR Off-The-Air During Improvements

Marfa Public Radio has begun a series of improvements to its transmission facilities that will significantly increase its signal coverage and quality. This may require the station to be OFF THE AIR for periods of time while improvements are made. MPR appreciates your patience and understanding while this work is being completed; they know you will be pleased with the results! If you have any questions, please e-mail MPR at: info@marfapublicradio.org.

Mission Restoration Project Needs Your Help

The elements are destroying the c.1914 Sacred Heart of Jesus Church and with it a memory of a way of life in rural Far West Texas. "It's like a part of our history is just melting away before us", says Presidio County Historical Commission member Marion Hughes. Built by locals who created tall graceful adobe arches, this architectural icon is unlike any other in the Southwest. In Spring 2006, with funding from the Texas Historical Commission and generous support from individuals locally and nationwide, stabilization of the adobe wall base and emergency shoring commenced, insuring structural stability. Future plans include a new roof, adobe wall repair, tower reconstruction, and new windows and doors. The Ruidosa Mission Project urgently requests financial contributions to carry this project through to completion. To help, send contributions to Ruidosa Mission Project, p.o. box 606, Marfa, Texas 79843, or contact them at 432-729-4452 or presidiocounty@sbcglobal.net

In the Mood for Movies

Amazing Photos of the Giant Screening, which happened last summer, can be seen at the website for Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Be sure to click on the thumbnails for the full panoramic images of their portable movie screen set up right in the middle of Highland. A movie under the stars, ahhh... speaking of that, I can't wait until the Ballroom Drive-in is in action.

On The Screen at the Library
tonight: Last Holiday
tuesday: Gilda
wednesday: Touch the Sound
coming soon: Crumb
* movies start at 8 p.m.

The Marfa.Org ®@ŋd¤m‡zЄ®

Blog Entry by Film Crew Member, Ruth De Jong
"Our offices our set up in the old feather factory that has since gone out of business, we are located at 1 fancy feather way, marfa, tx. don't bother GPSing it, it won't show up......... from route 90, just take a right at the main Marfa intersection (no, don't look for stop lights, they don't exist either..you'll just know)... did I mention they found 1200 lbs. (NO EXAGGERATION) of marijuana, last week, left in an abandoned truck..."

Agents Say It's Impossible To Secure Border
"CBS 11 News spent last week with the border patrol in the Marfa sector, in Big Bend country.Dan Harris is the border patrol agent in charge of the Marfa Station. It's his job to secure 68 of the 510 miles which separate Texas from Mexico, along the Rio Grande.Harris says,” It is one of the most difficult tasks this country has."Despite its danger, the rustic beauty of the desert and mountains invite and entice criminal activity. Illegal immigrants travel by foot and vehicle. Some seek employment and a new life, but border patrol agents say they've also seen a dramatic increase in marijuana smuggling. In some places the Rio Grande is completely dry. All you have to do is drive or walk across...."

Gusher! Erupts at MSA

On Friday, June 10 the Marfa Studio of Arts will open an exhibition of eight artists from the Permian Basin (Midland and Odessa) area. This curated exhibition is supported by a grant awarded to the Studio by the Permian Basin Area Foundation and in part by support from the Texas Commission for the Arts. Titled Gusher! Art of the Permian Basin the show intends to give the audience a glimpse of the art and artists who work and live in this part of West Texas.

The Marfa Studio invited Elayne Karickhoff to select the artists who would be represented in this exhibition. "For us, the title of the show, Gusher!, was probably one the most challenging parts of putting the exhibition together" says Malinda Beeman, Director of the Marfa Studio of Arts. After looking at the curators selection, we needed a title to further define the commonality of the artists and their work. This was difficult, as the work was unique and personal. There wasn't one shared theme or inspiration. T he obvious thing that tied the artists work together was their proximity to each other, the towns of Midland and Odessa, as well as the shared highway, Interstate 20. Another obvious connection was the oil industry that surrounds the area with refineries. Ms Karickhoff informed us that indeed the Midland and Odessa area had moved on from being just another Texas oil town and the economy had become much more broad based. After "trying on" many titles for the exhibition, we came back to the image of the erupting oil well (gusher) as a metaphor for the surprising hidden cache of energy revealed when one takes the time to look for it. We also discovered that most of the artists had strong connections with the educational environment (UTPB, museums, public schools) in the area. This connection seems to be help encourage the sense of community that many artists need to feel supported in their work.

When examining the work, the viewer can actually find commonalities among the artists concerns. Cynthia Wood and Joyce Howell both utilize printmaking and are inspired by elements of nature. Ms. Howell abstracts her natural images, when Wood chooses a more lyrical and narrative presentation of plant imagery. Both Jill Bals and Dan Askew work are more sculptural and address themes of human/animal/mechanical hybrids. Ms. Bals creates sculptures that resemble ancient "tools" that are drawn or propelled by human appendages (hands, feet) mending the tool with the user. Dan Askew's work is derived from more contemporary technology, building art works that have robotic elements with kinetic movement. In a sense, both Becki Smith and David Krause explore "containers" in their work. The meticulous wooden boxes of Smith contain the contents of life with little objects that symbolize the important of meaning and spiritual content needed as human beings. The most recent work of David Krause present the exoskeletons of cicadas as metaphorical symbols to illustrate certain aspects of human change and transformation. Although an piece of earlier work the exhibition by Mr. Krause is less pensive and more overtly political. Two other artists, Pam Price and Jeff Wood delve into different aspects of personal representation. The abstract intaglio print images of Jeff Wood are powerful, yet allusive at the same time. The work seems to portray emotional content that is beautifully transcribed through the artists graphic language. Finally, underlining the artistseternal need to present the simple beauty of everyday life, Pam Price does simple, yet elegant line drawings of a dog (her dog?) "Isky".

The Studio invites the community to attend an artist's reception for the exhibition on that Saturday, June 10, from 5-7 p.m. The Marfa Studio of Arts is a non-profit community arts organization serving Marfa and the Big Bend Community.

HWY 90 Gallery to Show Prints Inspired by Marfa

A reception at HWY 90 Gallery on Friday, June 9 will launch the first exhibit in Marfa by Dallas-based printer and sculptor Joan Winter.

Winter’s work reflects her interest in the changes time brings, such as the variations of light and shadow during the day and through the cycles of seasons. Each print is an abstract image dominated by one main color, with rich, subtle variations of color and texture across the surface. “I am searching for ethereal qualities concealed beneath the layers of the visible and invisible, between light and shadow,” said Winter.

Included in the show at HWY 90 Gallery will be a series of etchings inspired by Marfa. “These prints isolate and begin to reveal the elusive serenity of Marfa,” said Winter. “They are not referential, but embody the surfaces and colors of Marfa and the surrounding West Texas landscape. The sand-colored adobe, the astonishing vast sky, the ocotillo, and the rugged land are inspirations for the forms and colors of this series of multi-plate etchings.” Her prints are exceptionally large compared to most etchings, with some of the works measuring 54 x 33 inches. To make the prints, Winter uses the large presses at Flatbed Press in Austin, collaborating with master printers Katherine Brimberry and Elvia Perrin. Flatbed Press is a well-known fine art press, printing and editioning for many nationally and internationally known artists.

Winter’s prints are made with a very direct process, layering multiple copper plates and often using ink transparencies to ultimately reveal a delicate quality of light. Winter enjoys the elements of spontaneity and intuitive chance that come into play as she develops the copper plates used to create the prints. “The etchings are about the touch and feeling of fragile connections.”

Winter’s sculpture, some of which is on display this summer at Holly Johnson Gallery in Dallas, is influenced by Japanese architecture. Wood is the primary medium for Winter’s sculpture, and she sometimes casts the pieces in clear, translucent resin to create sinewy, luminous forms that play light against shadow. She received her MFA from Southern Methodist University, Meadows School of the Arts. She had previously worked in the field of space planning and interior architecture for several major architectural firms. Her work has been shown in galleries in Texas, California, and New York and is included in numerous private and corporate collections.

The reception on June 9 will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Winter’s work will be on display at HWY 90 until September 3.

Judd boxes/etchings at inde/jacobs

Although visitors to Chinati cannot bring Donald Judd's aluminum boxes home, large-scale etchings of boxes are now available at the inde/jacobs gallery. The gallery has recently acquired 11 different images from Judd's series of sixteen that were published in 1977-78. The etchings, printed by Styria Studio of New York are on 29.5"x34.5" sheets of etching paper. Judd intended that the edition would be 75, although they were never completed. inde/jacobs also has recently added prints by Claes Oldenburg, John Chamberlain and others. New prints by Roni Horn and Brice Marden are expected soon. Direct link

Happy Birthday Donald

Born June 3rd, 1928

The Marfa.Org ®@ŋd¤m‡zЄ®

Judd's Wikipedia Entry is Growing
Recent Additions to the Marfa.Org Gallery
Aedwyn Darroll Discussion
The Exploration Co. Provides Update on Oil Drilling
Texas Border Prepares for Troop Deployment

A Texas Transformation [Edutopia]
"The images that reflect the Marfa experience most accurately are those that relate to the environment and architecture, those that help give a sense of place. The connection between the art and its context are explicit and intentional in Judd's work and at the core of his thinking. You look less at objects than at space and context through a uniquely Juddian lens. This is much easier to do in the relatively uncluttered spaces of Marfa than in a Manhattan gallery or museum. You also come to expect the unexpected in Marfa. At last year's Open House, the range of art on display included an exhibition of Pop Art practitioner John Chamberlain's early foam sculptures. There were installations of minimalist painter..."

Sheldon Director Chronicles Trip to NY [Journal Star]
"(Director of Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery Jan Driesbach went to New York earlier this month at the time of the Christie’s and Sotheby’s spring art auctions. In the following story, she shares her shopping experience in the high art world.)
After assaying the contents of seven large galleries at Christie’s in Rockefeller Center, I proceed down the block to the auction house’s display of Donald Judd sculpture on the 20th floor of a nearby building. The highly praised installation is revealing and viewing Judd surrounded by urban views offers new understandings of his efforts. Many strong pieces, and I gain some new insights into how the sculpture in our collection might best be installed..."