Marfa: The Transformation of a West Texas Town

by Kathleen Shafer

A small town in the vast desert of West Texas, Marfa attracts visitors from around the world to its art foundations and galleries, film and music festivals, and design and architecture symposiums. While newcomers sometimes see it as “another Santa Fe,” long-time residents often take a bemused, even disapproving attitude toward the changes that Marfa has undergone since artist Donald Judd came to town in the 1970s and began creating spaces for his own and other artists’ work. They remember when ranching and the military formed the basis of the town’s economy, even as they acknowledge that tourist dollars are now essential to Marfa’s sustainability Marfa tells an engaging story of how this isolated place became a beacon in the art world, like the famous Marfa Lights that draw curious spectators into the West Texas night. As Kathleen Shafer delves into the town’s early history, the impact of Donald Judd, the expansion of arts programming, and the increase in tourism, she unlocks the complex interplay between the particularities of the place, the forces of commerce and growth, the textures of local culture and tradition, and the transformative role of artists and creative work. Bookending her story between two iconic artworks—the whimsical Prada Marfa and the crass Playboy Marfa —Shafer illuminates the shifting cultural landscape of Marfa, showing why this place has become a mecca for so many and how the influx of newcomers has transformed its character.

Genres: Art

196 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Hung Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy interesting read on Marfa, it’s history and how it became what it is today. For folks familiar w/Marfa, a lot of what’s covered isn’t new. That said, the author’s examination of the contradictions and complexities of this place, it’s local and tourists population is well researched and thought through. I enjoyed it, but full disclosure - I’m interested in most things Marfa.

[Rich · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m torn on this book after just now finishing it. It’s not a comprehensive history which is fine w me. I did learn a lot about Judd’s impact and the feelings toward his work by native Marfans. But the author’s philosophical approach often felt like reading in circles where she repeated her notions or contradicted them on her own.
It’s basically set up as pre-Judd, Judd’s impact and post-Judd. Perhaps I know more about where Marfa is coming from both as an art destination and a run-down small town, but her writing didn’t fully flesh out what I think she was going for.
I liked the book and it’s a nice primer for better understanding Marfa , but it lacked something I can’t put my finger on.

[Robert Boyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as detailed as I hoped it would be. There is more to the history of Marfa than Shafer discusses. She holds a PhD in geography, and that becomes a big focus for her--but the philosophy of geography is boring if that's not what one is here to read about.

In any case, I learned some stuff, but I wanted it to be better than it was.

[Michael Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful, well-written book. In it, Shafer explores the tension between the Marfa that existed prior to the arrival of artist Donald Judd, and the one that appeared after. Before Judd, the town was a more or less typical West Texas community, albeit one slowly dying. After Judd, it was the center of a thriving art scene, albeit one that could drive its original inhabitants away.

Thus, it is an interesting book if only because so many American rural communities are similarly faced with a choice of either death or a painful transformation which may be worse than extinction.

[bibliotekker Holman · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading about Marfa in the New York Times, I had to learn more about this famous, middle of nowhere arts town, its history and people. An interesting story about the juxtaposition and intermingling of staid ranching culture and avant-garde art culture. Definitely worth going off the beaten track for a visit. A good read.

[Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down! Shafer weaves together the different narratives of Marfa and really gives an accurate sense of place. She explains the rise, growth, and challenges the town experiences. Will recommend to anyone who says they want to ~see~ Marfa

[Avedon Arcadio · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating concise look at Marfa’s early history and where it stands in its current time and place. I really enjoyed the connections of art theory with landscape, space and place. Honestly feel more towns should have books like this.

[Benjamin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a hard time pinning down what this book is supposed to be. Ostensibly it’s about post-Judd Marfa but there are no concrete discussions, nothing substantive. It hangs in this weird place between history and memoir. I wish it had committed to one or the other.

The description of specific landmarks and their history is interesting and I enjoyed what little there is about the geography, culture, and preservation of those landmarks. However, the vast majority of the book is personal musings and repeated observations.

[Susan Eubank · Rating 4 out of 5]

We discussed this book at the Reading the Western Landscape Book Club on Zoom on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. PDT.

3.5 "Either you have no job and a new car, three jobs and no car, or three houses and seven cars and you're here three weeks out of the year." p. 153

Here are the questions:

• Icebreaker: Tell us about a visit to what you later realized was primarily a tourist destination? How did that affect your visit?
• Did this book help you understand something new? What was it? Why?
• What did you think about the writing style and point of view and why? Was she successful in understanding the town?
• Why do you think the author wrote this book? Did you figure out why she had some relationship to the town? Can you give examples of that relationship?
• Did the illustrations work? Why? Why not?
• Who is the audience for this book? Why?
• Having read this book, is Marfa a town you would like to visit? Why? Why not?
• Did her explanation of why she left out how the Hispanic demographic affected the town make sense to you? Should she have tried harder? Why? Why not? What could she have done to solve this challenge?
• What is the best part of the book? Why?
• Anything you would change as a pretend editor?
• Any ambiguities we need to clear up?
• Any other questions you have for the group?
• Favorite line, image, or passage?

[Timmytoothless · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it’s bit of a ramble, the book is insightful on it’s namesake subject. It ultimately finds its footing with some piercing considerations of landscape, place, culture and tourism. I’m happy I encountered the book after visiting for the first time; The semi stream-of-consciousness feel of the writing echos my experience of being in Marfa and pondering its distinctive cultural mechanics.