In the tiny town of Marfa, discover astonishing, thought-provoking art in the middle of the Texas desert. Seeking an environment with vast open vistas to produce huge indoor and outdoor installations, world-renowned sculptor Donald Judd founded the Chinati Foundation in 1986 on a former army base.  As a museum for permanent installations, the Chinati Foundation now houses extraordinary sculptures and installations by premier artists including Robert Irwin, Richard Long, Dan Flavin, Roni Horn, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. The town has become a draw for galleries and working artists, who we’ll meet in their studios to find out why they choose to live and work in this remote community. We’ll visit the Ballroom Marfa, an internationally recognized non-collection art museum showing site-specific and site-inspired works as well as commissioning projects from musicians and film-makers. Enjoy the gorgeous night skies away from city lights throughout your stay!

But before heading to Marfa, our trip will begin in the border town of El Paso, Marfa’s closest city, which features a blend of Mexican and United States cultures. This small city has a remarkably large budget for the arts, resulting in exciting public sculptures and over 100 murals located across two city districts. Home to the University of Texas, El Paso boasts three prominent art centers, including the Stanlee and Gerald Rubin Center at the UTEP, the El Paso Museum with its 24-hour breathtaking new installation Star Ceiling by acclaimed artist Leo Villareal, and the Mexican American Cultural Center. Get to know the history and focus of El Paso’s incredible murals on a private tour, visit working artists in their studios, see works by the noted 20th century western artist and novelist Thomas C. Lea III, and explore selected museum exhibitions. See an inspiring chapel ceiling by Anabell Livermore, the alter-ego of James Magee, whose astounding monumental work of art The Hill in the Chihuahuan Desert will be a stop on our way to Marfa.

Activity Level: Participants should be comfortable independently walking and standing for an hour at a time, climbing and descending stairs, and walking on uneven surfaces. 

Email sarah@artencounter.org to let us know you’re interested!