Previous | Next :: Marfa Fuel Tanks : Waiting for Rain in The High Desert : Texas | July 28, 2014, 3:00 am

I am in Marfa ...... up in the High Desert of Western Texas ........ it is a weird place that mixes the feeling of decay with a very strong art of minimalism .......... I know these things sound kind of opposite ends of any spectrum ......... and yet they kind of blend here .......... the desert winds gradually decay all man made objects especially buildings around here ...... there are many ruins decaying in this once withering away railway and ranching town ......... but the town has been economically rescued by the minimalist art of the previously New York based world renowned Donald Judd .......... He came here in the latter part of his life and placed some of his giant minimalist sculptures that are his trademark in the desert and in a series of old military barracks buildings that he took over that are now collectively The Chinati Founadtion ........... he then persuaded other artists to contribute to his amazing display down here ....... this in turn attracted other artists....... and tourists ........ to visit ...... and many artists to live in the town ......... this has all been the catalyst that has revived the town's economic fortunes ........... now its a funny mix of ranching folks and artists .........

I chatted to some ranching guys at a bar called the Lost Horse Saloon listening to a great country band ....... then I had a beer with Fran Christina the drummer with The Fabulous Thunderbirds at a Marfa Public Radio Party ........... Then I had some dinner with Ishion Hutchinson a very cool Jamaican poet .......... on the Lannan residency here in Marfa ............ considering its a good 3 hour drive from any half way decent size airport ....... only has a couple of thousand residents in all .......... and is completely surrounded on all sides by desert ........ amazingly .......... this little place is totally rocking ........... hehehehehe..........

And Donald Judd's stuff ........ his oversize aluminium boxes particularly ......... were kinda magical in his giant buildings in the desert this afternoon ..............

Oh yeah and last night I also saw the Marfa Lights ........... this weird unexplained phenomena .......... very weird ....... and again kind of wonderful ............

Yeah well worth a trip if you are ever 'think to motor West' .......... :-))))))))))))))))))))))

Cheers Jez XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

PS............ These old petrol/diesel tanks in the middle of town .......... seemed to me........... to actually have both ....... a kind of almost minimalism ............ and a sense of decay...........