The Chinati Foundation/La Fundación Chinati is a contemporary art museum located in Marfa, Texas , and based upon the ideas of its founder, artist Donald Judd .
45-413: The specific intention of Chinati is to preserve and present to the public permanent large-scale installations by a limited number of artists. The emphasis is on works in which art and the surrounding landscape are inextricably linked. As Judd wrote in the foundation's first catalogue in 1987: It takes a great deal of time and thought to install work carefully. This should not always be thrown away. Most art
90-571: A POW camp on the base. In 1945, shortly after the end of World War II, the fort was closed during America's demobilization . On October 23, 1946, the base was transferred to the Corps of Engineers . The Texas National Guard assumed control of the base shortly afterward. In 1949, most of the base's land was divided up and sold to local citizens. In the late 1970s, under the auspices of the Dia Art Foundation, artist Donald Judd acquired
135-466: A laugh when the "So Weird' group out goes out into a forest area that does not even exist anywhere in or near our town." "Marfa" is the eighth track on Texas symphonic rock band Mother Falcon 's second studio album, You Knew . It is also the name of songs by Wildcat! Wildcat! , S. Carey , and Paul Cauthen ("Marfa Lights"). Marfa is featured in Ben Lerner 's 2014 novel 10:04 . Marfa
180-528: A public service to nonprofit foundations. Furthermore, The Lannan Foundation has established a writers-in-residency program, a Marfa theater group has formed, and a multifunctional art space called Ballroom Marfa has begun to show art films, host musical performances, and exhibit other art installations. The city is also 37 miles (60 km) from Prada Marfa , a pop art exhibit, and is home to Cobra Rock Boot Company and The Wrong Store. Marfa Myths, an annual music festival and multidisciplinary cultural program,
225-564: A stimulating environment. Its Internship Program offers students from a variety of disciplines hands-on museum experience. Each summer the museum hosts art classes for local students. Chinati has been producing an annual newsletter in English and Spanish since 1995 (some of the back issues are available at the Chinati bookstore and all can be downloaded at foundation's website. The Chinati Foundation has reopened, after being closed in response to
270-607: A viewing station 9 miles east of town on US 67 near the site of the old air base. Each year, enthusiasts gather for the annual Marfa Lights Festival. Various movie productions have filmed in and around parts of Marfa. The 1950 film High Lonesome and the 1956 Warner Bros. film Giant were filmed in Marfa. In August 2006, two films were partially shot in Marfa: There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men . Larry Clark 's 2012 film Marfa Girl
315-742: A week, passes through the city, but does not stop; the nearest station is located in Alpine , 26 mi (42 km) northeast. Greyhound Lines operates an intercity bus service from the Western Union office. Commercial air service is available at either Midland International Air and Space Port ( IATA : MAF , ICAO : KMAF , FAA LID : MAF ) or El Paso International Airport ( IATA : ELP , ICAO : KELP , FAA LID : ELP ). The airports are, respectively, 182 miles (292 km) northeast, and 189 miles (304 km) northwest. Marfa Municipal Airport ( IATA : MRF , ICAO : KMRF , FAA LID : MRF )
360-599: Is a project of the International Woman's Foundation, which has operated an artist-in-residency program since 2002. The International Woman's Foundation was responsible for placing Fort D.A. Russell on the National Register of Historic Places as an effort to preserve the historic importance of the site. The facility's studio galleries host artists who desire to exhibit work in the region at a premier venue. In late September 2012 through early April 2013,
405-470: Is fragile and some should be placed and never moved again. Somewhere a portion of contemporary art has to exist as an example of what the art and its context were meant to be. Somewhere, just as the platinum iridium meter guarantees the tape measure, a strict measure must exist for the art of this time and place. The Chinati Foundation is located on 340 acres (1.4 km) of land on the site of former Fort D. A. Russell in Marfa, Texas, and in some buildings in
450-591: Is home to National Public Radio -affiliated station KRTS . Marfa houses the offices of the Big Bend Sentinel , serving Marfa, and International / Internacional , serving Presidio, in one building. The former is a weekly newspaper covering the areas of Marfa, Fort Davis, Presidio, and far West Texas. Marfa Magazine is a yearly publication distributed from Marfa, founded and operated by Johnny Calderon Jr. It focuses on issues and general information about Marfa, Alpine, and Fort Davis. On October 1, 2009,
495-679: Is installed in a separate building or outdoor area on the museum's grounds. In addition to the permanent collection, regular temporary exhibitions feature modern and contemporary art of diverse media. It was Judd's goal at Chinati to bring art, architecture, and nature together in order to form a coherent whole. In October 2013 the foundation finalized plans for untitled (dawn to dusk) , a 930 m (10,000 sq ft), C-shaped concrete structure by Robert Irwin , to join Chinati's permanent collection. Opened in July 2016, this installation utilizes Fort D. A. Russell 's ruined former hospital, rebuilding
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#1732772490996540-568: Is served by the Marfa Independent School District . Within it, Marfa Elementary School and Marfa Junior/Senior High School serve the city. Hispanic students attended the segregated Blackwell School from 1909 to 1965. The school was authorized to be a National Historic Site in 2022. Marfa International School, a private school, opened in 2012, serving students in grades 1–8, with scholarships available based on need. However, it closed in 2016. Presidio County
585-685: Is within the Odessa College District for community college. Marfa and the surrounding area are served by the Marfa Public Library, which houses a diverse collection in a variety of formats. The library began in 1947 when the Marfa Lions Club and the Marfa Study Club agreed to establish a library for the citizens of the area. The library was originally housed in the historic U.S.O. building, but
630-528: The Chinati Foundation . Located at Fort David A. Russell's central complex is Building 98 , a project of the International Woman's Foundation and the home of the iconic World War II German POW murals. The murals were completed in 1945 by Hans Jürgen Press and Robert Humpel, both German prisoners of war held at the base. The building served as the bachelor officer quarters and as an entertainment center for West Point officers during World War I and
675-654: The 1920s. The Marfa Army Air Field served as a training facility for several thousand pilots during World War II, including the American actor Robert Sterling , before closing in 1945. The base was also used as the training ground for many of the United States Army's chemical mortar battalions . Marfa experienced economic issues after the war ended and after a drought impaired agricultural output. Artist Donald Judd arrived in 1973 and began buying properties to renovate, which resulted in bohemian interest in
720-591: The COVID-19 pandemic. The closest airports to Marfa are in El Paso and Midland/Odessa. It is about a three-hour drive from either airport. Fort D. A. Russell (Texas) Fort D. A. Russell is the name of an American military installation near Marfa , Texas , that was active from 1911 to 1946. It is named for David Allen Russell , a Civil War general killed at the Battle of Opequon , September 19, 1864. It
765-526: The Mexican Revolution. The International Woman's Foundation was responsible for placing Fort D. A. Russell on the National Register of Historic Places' the foundation has operated an artist-in-residency program and base museum since 2002. In 2002, Mona Blocker Garcia took on the task of creating the foundation for mature women artists and healthful aging, thus preserving the important history of Fort D. A. Russell to near its exact state when
810-594: The Paisano Pass when one is facing southwest (toward the Chinati Mountains). According to the Handbook of Texas Online , "at times they appear colored as they twinkle in the distance. They move about, split apart, melt together, disappear, and reappear. Presidio County residents have watched the lights for over a hundred years." The first historical record of them dates to 1883. Presidio County has built
855-686: The Splendours of the Great War , 1971 Six-Legged Sheep , 1993 Tour de France, 1982 The Chinati Foundation sponsors art and education programs, establishing close links to the local community and other cultural institutions and universities in the United States and abroad. Started by Judd in 1989, Chinati's Artist in Residence Program provides artists from around the world an opportunity to develop and exhibit their work in
900-419: The age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were not families. About 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.99. The age distribution of the population shows 24.9% under
945-442: The age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 24,712, and for a family was $ 32,328. Males had a median income of $ 25,804 versus $ 18,382 for females. The per capita income for
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#1732772490996990-491: The buildings in Marfa allowed him to install his works on a larger scale. In 1976, he bought the first of two ranches that became his primary places of residence, continuing a long love affair with the desert landscape surrounding Marfa. Later, with assistance from the Dia Art Foundation in New York, Judd acquired decommissioned Fort D.A. Russell , and in 1979 began transforming the fort's buildings into art spaces. Judd's vision
1035-554: The city council voted to no longer have a local police department. At the time, the Presidio County Sheriff's Department and Texas Highway Patrol provided law enforcement for the city, as well as the county as a whole. As of 2019, however, the Marfa Police Department has been re-established, and five officers, including a chief and lieutenant, oversee law enforcement within the city limits. Marfa
1080-536: The city was $ 14,636. About 15.7% of families and 20.6% of the population were below the poverty line , including 24.6% of those under age 18 and 26.9% of those age 65 or over. The area around Marfa is known as a cultural center for contemporary artists and artisans. In 1971, Minimalist artist Donald Judd moved to Marfa from New York. After renting summer houses for a few years, he bought two large hangars and some smaller buildings and began to install his art permanently. This had started with his building in New York but
1125-420: The city. The population density was 1,354 inhabitants per square mile (523/km ). The 1,126 housing units averaged 719.1 per square mile (276.9/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 30% White, 0.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 7.50% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 68.7% of the population. Of 863 households, 29.3% had children under
1170-621: The community. In 2012 Vanity Fair described it as a "playground" for "art-world pioneers and pilgrims". Marfa is about 60 miles from the Mexico-U.S. border. Marfa is in northeastern Presidio County within the Chihuahuan Desert . The town is approximately 20 miles south of Fort Davis on Texas Route 17 and about 18 miles west of Alpine on US Route 67 . According to the United States Census Bureau ,
1215-412: The former fort and began converting the buildings to house permanent large-scale art installations. Originally conceived to include works by Judd, John Chamberlain, and Dan Flavin, the museum was later expanded to include works by Carl Andre, Ingolfur Arnarrson, Ilya Kabakov, Roni Horn , Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, David Rabinowitch, and John Wesley. Judd's museum opened to the public in 1986 as
1260-541: The fort closed. Marfa, Texas Marfa is a city in the high desert of the Trans-Pecos in far West Texas , United States, between the Davis Mountains and Big Bend National Park , at an elevation of 4685 feet. It is the county seat of Presidio County .The city was founded in the early 1880s as a water stop . The population of Marfa peaked in the 1930s and as of the 2020 United States Census
1305-546: The foundation held a major retrospective of the works of Wilhelmina Weber Furlong at Building 98 featuring over 75 unseen works of the early American woman modernist. Building 98 is located at historic Fort D. A. Russell; it is the home of Marfa's German POW murals. The facility also features the George Sugarman sculpture courtyard. Marfa is the location of the Marfa lights , visible on clear nights between Marfa and
1350-404: The home base of the 77th Field Artillery. During World War II , the post was expanded and used as an air base, a base for a Women's Army Corps unit, a training facility for chemical mortar battalions , and a base for troops guarding the U.S.-Mexican border . The Marfa Army Airfield was constructed nearby and was used as pilot-training facility. German prisoners of war were also housed in
1395-753: The name came from a character in Fyodor Dostoevsky 's novel The Brothers Karamazov , Marfa was actually named after Marfa Strogoff, a character in Jules Verne 's novel Michael Strogoff . According to Sterry Butcher of the Texas Monthly , a writer researched the Karamazov story and deemed it false, but did not receive any letters to the editor after he submitted the story to the newspaper, and therefore "No one cared. The story we had suited Marfa just fine." The town grew quickly during
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1440-416: The population is 1,788. Today Marfa is a tourist destination and a major center for minimalist art . Major attractions include Building 98 , the Chinati Foundation , and the Marfa lights . Marfa was founded in the early 1880s as a railroad water stop . The town was named "Marfa" (Russian for "Martha") at the suggestion of the wife of a railroad executive. Although some historians have hypothesized that
1485-915: The structure within its original footprint while incorporating several architectural interventions to modify the building's dynamics of light and space. Also in 2022, the Chinati Foundation – along with the Central Marfa Historic District in Marfa — was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places . Chinati Thirteener , 2010 15 untitled works in concrete , 1980–1984 The Arena , 1980–1987 6-Sided Bar III , 1969 Chateau , 1983 Choir , 1988 Day Titanic , 1984 Hannah in Shades , 1989 Hunting Dogs , 1985 Jack Frost , 1971 Mattress Cloud , 1981 Panoply: Eight Silkscreens Inspired by
1530-465: The town has a total area of 1.6 sq mi (4.1 km ), all land. Marfa experiences a semi-arid climate ( BSk ) with hot summers and cool winters. Due to its elevation and aridity, the diurnal temperature variation is substantial. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 1,788 people, 802 households, and 300 families residing in the city. As of the 2010 United States Census , 1,981 people, 864 households, and 555 families resided in
1575-494: The town's center. Donald Judd first visited Marfa, Texas, in 1971, and moved himself from New York to Marfa as a full-time resident in 1977. Construction and installation at the site began in 1979 with initial assistance from the Dia Art Foundation in New York. The Chinati Foundation opened to the public in 1986 as an independent, non-profit, publicly funded institution. Chinati was originally conceived to exhibit
1620-402: The work of Donald Judd , John Chamberlain and Dan Flavin . However, the idea of the foundation developed further and its collection was enriched over years, and now the permanent collection has expanded to include Carl Andre , Ingólfur Arnarsson , Roni Horn , Ilya Kabakov , Richard Long , Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen , David Rabinowitch , and John Wesley . Each artist's work
1665-441: The world to visit Marfa's art. Between 1997 and 2008, both foundations cosponsored this event. The Chinati Foundation now occupies more than 30 buildings in Marfa and has permanently displayed work by 13 artists. In recent years, a new wave of artists has moved to Marfa to live and work. As a result, new gallery spaces have opened in the downtown area. The Crowley Theater and its annex host public events with seating for over 175 as
1710-583: Was also the filming location for the music video of the xx song “ On Hold .” Marfa is featured in the 2019 Simpsons episode " Mad About the Toy ." In the Disney Channel series of "So Weird" in the first season episode in 1999, titled "Will o' the Wisp". The group goes to Marfa, Texas for a music venue. Fi & Jack go out one night outside Marfa, Texas to see if they can view the famous Marfa Lights. It
1755-662: Was established in 1911 as Camp Albert, a base for cavalry and air reconnaissance units sent to protect West Texas from Mexican bandits after the Pancho Villa raid. The base was expanded and renamed Camp Marfa during World War I . In the interwar years, the base became the headquarters for the Marfa Command, which replaced the Big Bend District. In 1924, a patrol called the Mounted Watchmen
1800-649: Was established to deter persons from crossing the Rio Grande into the United States. In 1930, the base was renamed Fort D. A. Russell. The name had been used on a previous military base in Wyoming; the name became available when that post was renamed Fort Francis E. Warren. The base was briefly abandoned during the Great Depression . On January 2, 1933, the Army closed the post, and reactivated it in 1935 as
1845-586: Was filmed exclusively in Marfa. Also, Far Marfa , written and directed by Cory Van Dyke, made its debut in 2012. Morley Safer presented a 60 Minutes segment in on August 4, 2013, titled "Marfa, Texas, the Capital of Quirkiness." In 2017, Marfa was featured as the setting of the Amazon series I Love Dick , an adaptation of Chris Kraus 's 1997 novel, which was set in Pasadena, California . Marfa
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1890-492: Was founded in 2014 by the nonprofit contemporary arts foundation Ballroom Marfa and Brooklyn-based music label Mexican Summer . The festival brings together a diversity of emerging and established artists and musicians to work creatively and collaboratively across music, film, and visual arts contexts. The festival is inherently embedded in the landscape of Far West Texas and deeply engaged with Marfa's cultural history and present-day community. Building 98 , also located in Marfa,
1935-713: Was moved to a city-owned building after the city took over the project. After meeting the requirements of the Texas State Library , it became a member of the Texas Trans-Pecos Library System. The present library building was donated to the City of Marfa in 1973 by the first chairperson, Laura Bailey, and her husband Bishop. Future expansions and renovations to the current building are also planned. Amtrak 's Sunset Limited , which operates between New Orleans and Los Angeles three days
1980-545: Was not filmed in Marfa, Texas but filmed a location near their studios in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada location. Apparently, the writers and production staff knew nothing about the area of Marfa, Texas when filming this episode. Fi & Jack are in a forest area with large trees trying to view the "Marfa Lights". In fact, Marfa, Texas is located in a desert area which there is no forest of any kind. The local Marfa Chamber of Commerce and Marfa City Hall Council said, "We got
2025-546: Was to house large collections of individual artists' work on permanent display, as a sort of antimuseum. Judd believed the prevailing model of many museums , where various art exhibits are shown for limited times, does not allow the viewer an understanding of the artist or their work as they had intended. Following Judd's death in 1994, two foundations have worked to maintain his legacy: the Chinati Foundation and Judd Foundation . Since its inauguration in 1986, Chinati has held an open-house event that attracts visitors from around
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