Marfa Texas
Marfa, Texas Travel Itinerary & Guide
Guest Post From:
3 Days in Marfa, Texas, USA
Marfa, Texas, is an artsy oasis in the middle of the Chihuahuan Desert. With Chinati Foundation, Judd Foundation, and numerous galleries in Marfa, this secluded small town will surprise you with its sophisticated sensibilities.
Day 1:
Marfa is only rewarded to those who are willing to take the extra mile. We spent the first day traveling from New York to El Paso, then driving 3 hours from El Paso to Marfa. Taking in the desert landscape along the way then arrive for dinner and rest up at Thunderbird Inn.
Thunderbird Inn
We stayed at Thunderbird Inn. The rooms at Thunderbird were very clean and cozy, decorated with modern decor inspired by the Texas high desert. There is also a lovely cactus courtyard and a pool to cool off from the desert sun.
Dinner at Capri
We had dinner at Capri, which is part of Thunderbird Inn, and right across the street from where we are staying. Capri serves food with ingredients inspired by the region.
Day 2:
After breakfast at Do Your Thing Coffee we walk around town enjoying the artistic touches that the town has to offer. Later in the day we visit Chinati Foundation and have dinner at the Late Night Museum of Electronic Wonders & Grilled Cheese.
Do Your Thing Coffee
We go to Do Your Thing Coffee for our black liquid fix. Do Your Thing is a coffee shop with an attitude just like its name. Set in a lumberyard, it serves specialty coffee, organic porridge, and a variety of fresh baked goods.
Walk Around Town
Simply walking around in Marfa is a treat to your artistic senses. As soon as we step foot in Marfa, we will quickly notice how everything around you seems effortless yet deeply considered, the town has the spirit of an art installation. Minimalist artist Donald Judd chose to reside here in the 70s, and with his studios and permanent installations, Judd transformed the town from an army training station into an inspiring artistic haven. Although Judd might have been the first to establish Marfa’s sensibility, today the town attracts lots of artist and city transplants that keep adding to its artistic expression. We found this abandoned gas station, which, with a slight change in context, has now been repurposed as a piece of art.
Laventure at Hotel St. George
We had lunch at Laventure at Hotel St. George, which is right across the street from The Judd Foundation. Marfa Books is also located in Hotel St. George, we shopped around after lunch and was very inspired by their collection of art and design books.
Chinati Foundation
The Chinati Foundation was founded by Donald Judd with the aid of Dia Art Foundation. The works at the foundation are meant to be permanent installations; each piece integrates and interacts with its surroundings, and allows the viewer to fully understand the artist’s intentions. Judd did not believe in the museum model, where art works are displayed for a short period of time, and often forced into a restricted space. The building itself and the vast desert landscape allowed Minimalist art to flourish in its purist form, staying true to Minimalist concepts like site specificity, repetition, and the celebration of industrial materials. The minimally developed region is fitting for the minimalist attitude. Most of the works in the Chinati Foundation can only be seen with a guided tour, and tickets are $25 for adults; book a tour in advance!
Late Night Museum of Electronic Wonders & Grilled Cheese
Once visited by Beyoncé, Food Shark serves Mediterranean bites with a Texan twist by day, and transforms into the Late Night Museum of Electronic Wonders & Grilled Cheese by night, featuring Jetsons-style electronics and serving amazing grilled cheeses. We ate inside the vintage bus while watching old music videos from a projector.
Day 3:
Visit Hotel Paisano and the Judd Foundation during the day, the after lunch at Marfa Burritos we shopped around Marfa’s unique boutiques as well as visit many smaller galleries that reside in Marfa. Then before heading back to El Paso, we stopped by the famous Prada Marfa.
Historic Hotel Paisano
We stopped by to see the Historic Hotel Paisano. Founded in 1929 just days before the stock market crash, designed by famous architect Henry Trost.
Judd Foundation
The Judd Foundation, in the center of downtown Marfa, is an organization that is dedicated to preserving Donald Judd’s studio, residence, and personal belongings. The Judd Foundation also requires you to join a tour to see these spaces; tickets are also $25 per tour. Different from the Chinati Foundation, the Judd Foundation really gives you insight into how Judd found his inspiration. From the building structure itself to the furniture that he purchased, you can see a record of him studying these forms over and over again to apply in his works. Both of these foundations are very inspiring to visit, and both shed a new light on the possibilities of the “museum” experience.
Shopping at Boutiques and Visiting Galleries
Boutiques in Marfa are highly curated. Among our favorites were Freda, Marfa Brands, Mano, The Wrong Store, and Mirth, each speaking to a distinct life style and attitude. For something clearly unique to Marfa, visit the Cobra Rock Boot Company, which sells western boots hand made in Marfa. But my personal love was Moonlight Gemstones, a little shop selling a wide variety of crystals and gems for what seemed to me like really reasonable prices.
The town is also filled with galleries, including Ballroom Marfa, Rule Gallery, and Inde/ Jacobs. All exhibit a sophisticated selection of works that are not typical to a small town.
Prada Marfa
Prada Marfa is an installation by artists Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset. It is a Prada “shop” that sits alone on highway 90, about 30 minutes outside of Marfa, showcasing only the left shoes of Prada’s fall/winter 2005 collection. This installation in the middle of nowhere is intended to never be repaired, and so will slowly degrade into the surrounding landscape. Another site-specific piece that relies on its context to be appreciated as art. Come during sunrise or sunset to get the best view.
Tips and Tricks:
2. There are limited ATMs in town, and some places like Food Shark are cash only, so get cash before you arrive.
3. Being in the high desert, temperatures can drop drastically at night, so dress in layers.
4. The sun can be brutal in the desert, so SPF and moisturizer are a must!
5. Keep in mind that both the Chinati Foundation and The Judd Foundation both require you to book tours in advance