One of the best experiences of working at The Chinati Foundation is seeing the expressions of the visitors, who have traveled for hours or even days, when they enter the installation of Donald Judd’s 100 aluminum boxes. Then later, when they see the light installation by Dan Flavin. There is a moment of silence, then to capture it, or just to grasp it, they start taking photos. Often one of them finds a good phrase to describe their encounter.
The majority of visitors who come to Marfa (population 2,424 and 200 miles from the nearest airport) live in large and populated cities from all over the world, and the open and luminous landscape of Marfa’s region can be shocking.
I was selected as an intern to work this summer at The Chinati Foundation. I am an art student at UTEP, commuting everyday from Cuidad Juárez, Mexico, currently a very agitated city. During my time at Chinati, I am living in an apartment on the museum grounds. What I am getting from the experience here, is that the art installations follow the rhythm of natural elements, like the passing clouds, changes in light, and temperature for this reason the installations are not the same all the time. They are not boring if you see them everyday.
I feel glad that visual art can be a complete adventure for our perceptions, and that all kinds of visitors get something unique from this experience. The miles of road to Chinati are a part of it. And it is worth the trip.
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For more information on how to get to Marfa, Texas, visit marfacc.com
For more information on the Chinati Foundation, visit www.chinati.org.
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