Little Road Trippin' Post

We traveled to West Texas--a journey of epic adventures!

Our first stop was Marfa--the famed area to view the 

'mysterious lights' that bounce around on a clear night--

unfortunately, we didn't have clear skies--rainy and lots of clouds--

it's the luck of the weather, isn't it!

We chose to stay in El Paisano Hotel--the location of famous

actors, Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, as they 

filmed the classic movie "Giant".  To this day, I've not seen this 

movie!!  

The courtyard was inviting and a place to enjoy at your leisure

after a day of hiking, biking, visiting historic structures or just

a nice drink by the flowing fountain

The touches you see are from the 1930's--although the hotel has 

gone through many hands and a few renovations but it still

remains the ideal location when you stay in Marfa--

We enjoyed the local foods, like this Chevre

from the Marfa Maid Dairy Farm

And where else could you find a coffee shop that

is located inside a vacant lumberyard!  Across the

street is the Get It and Go--such a refreshing grocery store!

After our dinner at the Hotel, we walked a short block

to Tumbleweed Laundry/Frama for a bite of Henry's

home made ice cream--yes, right next door to the

laundry--actually, I think that's pretty good marketing!

We also found Laundry/coffee shop in Alpine, sister

to the one in Marfa.

Marfa is home to Donald Judd Foundation--

Outside of town is Chinati Foundation

In 1979, Judd began working with the Dia Art Foundation to purchase the buildings and land of Fort D.A. Russell, a decommissioned military base. Through what was known at that time as “the Marfa Project,” Judd established the permanent installation of large-scale works by himself and his contemporaries. In 1986, Dia transferred the artworks, buildings, and land to Marfa. 

This latest art installation was designed by Robert Irwin

 A rebuilding of the demolished hospital at the former Fort D.A. Russell (which Donald Judd acquired in the late 70's with the help of Dia Art Foundation), it’s the only permanent and freestanding work of art by Irwin. To a non-discerning eye, it may appear to be just a building, but look closely and you’ll notice that the windows are taller than they should be, and the walls are disproportionately thick.

“That’s the main event, all the windows. People think they’re looking for artwork but what they’re actually seeing is beautiful nature,” said Irwin. “I liked the architecture of the fort. All I did was take that form and elaborate it—make the walls thicker, so you get a more substantial physicality to look out of. A real sense of frame.”

What the walls are framing is the big Texas sky, which is what, aside from his friendship with Judd, attracted Irwin to Marfa in the first place. “The clouds are right on top of your head; it’s like a wild west show everyday,” he said.

His purchase of two artillery sheds has enabled vast space for

exhibits--

Inside one of the hangers is the location for huge

aluminum structures--these are only open at certain times

for public viewing but as we walked along the outside

windows, we could see the marvelous pieces.

One hundred of them, made of silvery milled aluminum, are housed in two old brick artillery sheds. They sit in perfect quiet rows, glowing or seemingly translucent, depending on the light. 

Walking through the acres of fields, we flushed out

scores of jack rabbits and watched out steps for

rattlesnakes.

Now, all 400 acres of the site are run by the Chinati Foundation.  In this space, Judd scattered 15 giant concrete boxes, as empty and remote as the landscape.

Art at its finest in the wide open spaces of West Texas!