Pavlina & Kuopao took me on a trip to Marfa the week before I left. We went there for the annual art/ architecture gathering during the open house weekend at the Chinati Foundation. Apart from the highly educational aspects, the trip was also very fun - we met a lot of people from other universities and countries, and enjoyed ourselves. This was one of the best experiences I will remember from Texas.

This album includes photos from both my collection and from Pavlina's and Kuopaos'. Enjoy!
 
 
     
   
   
The Tech gang (plus El-Paso Peter), looking for fun.
 
 
     
   
   
The colorful vehicle of Johnny, the husband of the tomato lady.
 
 
     
   
   
First encounters w/ art... When looked at from outside, this room seemed to be on fire, because of the (intentional) reflections in the window.
 
 
     
   
   
"Artistes" discussing art, exhibits, projects, and contracts. Yes, da'lin', it's absolutely fabulous...
 
 
     
   
   
Some of the items in the exhibit...  
 
 
     
   
   
Yuuck, PDA! How distasteful! ;-)  
 
 
     
   
   
Suddenly, minimalist techno fills the air. Pavlina starts jumping to its rhythm.
 
 
     
   
   
Some folks are getting carried away!
 
 
     
   
   
It's very strange for parties like that to take place hundreds of miles away from the rest of the world!
 
 
     
   
   
Vassil joins the madness. It had been a while since I'd last danced to techno.
 
 
     
   
   
Outside, los hombres are trying to squeeze the last drops of free beer.
 
 
     
   
   
The early-morning view from our motel room. Hey, it was free!
 
 
     
   
   
Pavlina and Kuopao at the cool bookstore/ coffee shop.
 
 
     
   
   
OK, no more espresso for Kuopao!
 
 
     
   
   
The view from the entrance to the theater, where we (the Tech gang) were assigned to work. We got quite lucky, being assigned a fun job for only a couple of hours during the first day - most other people had to work tedious jobs both days. We also got a cool supervisor, Catherine from Copenhagen.

The rails are for Amtrak, presumably the route from El Paso to Dallas (or Houston?).
 
 
     
   
   
At Kabakov's imitation Soviet school. Amusing, but not convincing.  
 
 
     
   
   
Lenin's teachings on the walls.
 
 
     
   
   
Funny, the "Motherland Calls" poster has been "chasing" me for a while.
 
 
     
   
   
Pavlina: Let's get outa here!
 
 
     
   
   
Donald Judd's "100 untitled works in aluminum" are the centerpiece of the permanent collection.
 
 
     
   
   
So, that's the kinda stuff those artistes do for a living? ;-)
 
 
     
   
   
Confused? You should be!  
 
 
     
   
   
In fact, the negative seems more normal than the positive! ;-)
 
 
     
   
   
Analyze this!
 
 
     
   
   
Pavlina-enhanced studies of shape...
 
 
     
   
   
"Unauthorized entry prohibited" - the building used to be a prison for German POWs during the 1940s.
 
 
     
   
   
The exterior.
 
 
     
   
   
Oops! You didn't see that!  
 
 
     
   
   
Dan Flavin's fluorescent experiments.
 
 
     
   
   
Dizzy yet?
 
 
     
   
   
Prepare for the interstellar jump!
 
 
     
   
   
Houston, we are experiencing gravitational difficulties!
 
 
     
   
 
     
   
   
Shadows. I want this to be my living room! :-)  
 
 
     
   
   
Judd's "15 untitled works in concrete." When I was a kid back home, we lived next to a couple of large construction sites (apartment buildings and the subway) - and I used to play around - and run on top of - such "works". These, however, you cannot even touch! ;-)
 
 
     
   
   
Who has the (only) lighter?
 
 
     
   
   
Judd's "The Arena," where the Chinati folks instructed us and served us food (various culinary interpretations on subject of burritos).
 
 
     
   
   
The roof of the building is very interactive - the metal sheets expand and contract each time the sun comes out of a cloud or goes back behind one. In the process, they make a noise that sounds exactly like rain. The noise starts and stops very suddenly, and can really creep you out.
 
 
     
   
   
Resting a little in the public bed at the crushed car exhibit!
 
 
     
   
   
Hi baby!  
 
 
     
   
 
     
   
 
     
   
   
Some of these were actually very impressive. For instance, I saw a car in great pain and horror, being eaten by another! ;-)
 
 
     
   
   
The view into a sidestreet on the way from the motel to downtown Marfa.
 
 
     
   
   
The "free food" festival in front of the courthouse.
 
 
     
   
   
We, however, felt too good to stay in line for free food - and had some really good REAL pizza instead.
 
 
     
   
   
In addition, Pavlina coerced the pizza-lady into selling us all of her real tomatoes! :-)
 
 
     
   
   
It's a surprise to see a Renault in Texas. This one had a Chihuahua, Mexico, plate.
 
 
     
   
   
A great concert by the The Dallas-born, NYC-based "The Secret Machines" - expect more good stuff from them!
 
 
     
   
 
     
   
   
The next morning, at Erwin Redl's Matrix installation. He was also there, fixing the damage done by stupid tourists.
 
 
     
   
 
     
   
   
Supposedly, there was an intersection here. The streets, however, were purely imaginary!
 
 
     
   
 
     
   
   
Time to go back to Lubbock!
 
 
     
   
   
Interesting rock formations in the area.
 
 
     
   
 
     
   
 
     
   
 
     
   
   
Somewhere around Midland/Odessa, TX.
 
 
     
   
 
     
   
   
Naturally, I took the wrong turn somewhere and got way out of the intended route. However, we still arrived to Lubbock sooner than expected.
 
 
     
   
   
Peps is reading abstract philosophy and asking strange questions! :-)