Austinist Road Trip: Art Out West in Marfa, TX

The tiny West Texas town of Marfa may seem like an unlikely spot for one of the most exciting and inspiring contemporary art events in the country to take place. But each fall, for the past two decades, Marfa’s population of 2,000 doubles as artists and art lovers from across the country and around the globe come to Open House Weekend. It's the brainchild of minimalist artist Donald Judd, the creator of the Marfa-based Chinati Foundation and the Judd Foundation.

Each year, the free weekend of art, music, gallery talks, food and dance has expanded beneath the vast West Texas sky.

This year, a group of Austin artists will be among those whose work is on exhibit inside Marfa galleries and art spaces.

Dubbed 500E, the Austin collaboration will showcase new works by Sean Gaulager, Adreon Henry, Germain Keller, Jacob Villanueva and Hank Waddell. The artists work in a variety of mediums including mixed media paintings, computer drawings, sculptures, silkscreens and photographs.

On Wednesday Waddell was checking the air in his tires in preparation for the trip — his seventh year to make the journey.

“It just energizes me,” Waddell said about his yearly pilgrimage West. “I feel relaxed. I don’t feel any pressure. Out there you have to stop.”

If you make the 400-mile trip out to the desolate, yet beautiful West Texas area, check out the 500E exhibit inside 500 East San Antonio St. in Marfa — a former barbeque joint turned art space.

[500E Exhibit Site]

[Marfa Open House Weekend site]

500E Art Space at Open House Weekend
500 East San Antonio St., Marfa
Friday-Sunday, Oct. 5-7

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By Laura Hensley in Arts & Entertainment on October 3, 2007 3:34 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

guest

So. Did the residents of Marfa go all Animal House on you douches and run you out of town with a big EAT ME cake-float?

guest

Okay, enough with the "tiny West Texas town of Marfa may seem like an unlikely spot for one of the most exciting and inspiring contemporary art events..." stuff. Marfa's discovery is no longer news. It's a contemporary art outpost. Overrun by hipness. Sold out to Yankees. However you describe it, it is no longer a surprise.