Three hours
drive from El Paso, Texas, population 2,424,
this tiny town in the middle of nowhere is one
of the most unlikely and hottest new spots for contemporary art.
At first glance
Marfa is a typical west Texas town with
only one traffic light, an
abandoned movie theater, a couple of
gas stations, and a diner. But on closer
inspection, the main drag into town hosts a
number of small, vibrant galleries.
The
Marfa Book Company stocks
the Sunday
New York Times
and a wonderful selection
of art + design books.
There’s even a Prada store,
sitting isolated
on a lonely
highway outside town. Except it has no door.
And no employees. In fact it’s not even a store,
it’s an art installation.
Sleep at El
Paisano Hotel (207 North Highland Ave.),
a restored historic inn where Giant
was filmed with Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson
and James Dean; or the
Thunderbird Motel (601 West San Antonio),
a stylish and modern
take on the traditional motel.
Check out
Chinati Foundation (1 Cavalry Road),
a former army barracks turned into a
permanent art installation by artist
Donald Judd, and
Ballroom Marfa, a non-profit space dedicated
to contemporary art and culture. (108 East San Antonio St.).
