as published in the October 24th Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

The Marfa Open Art Festival concluded our 4th year on Saturday, October 19, and we have Marfa to thank for being the light-filled canvas (among other materials) we need to express ourselves. Heart-felt support from the professional community and the public is what inspires us to continue and reach higher to achieve our objectives of artful beauty, experimentation, fun and inclusion.

Jared Menane did a fantastic job curating most of the 2019 three weeks of experimental art adventure in Marfa. Jason McHenry made his great team of artists, designers, carpenters and friends available for our every need to help us get all the installs/deinstalls finished on time. JD Garcia organized a show of Marfans at Marfa Open House, complete with engaging artworks, music, and Convenience West and Salsa Puedes food. Special thanks to Tyler Spurgin for helping us add beauty to a powerful art show in Building 98 by including his planter sculptures along with post-apocalyptic sculptures by Mery Godigna Collet (still on view).

Generosity comes in many useful forms, and when consistency is part of the process, we feel particularly blessed. Jake McHargue and his team (Rob and Mo) are thankfully, and hopefully always by our side: a fine collaboration in an exquisite, endemic location. May the gods protect Jakes’s OLDRUINS for our future artful adventures. Sara Goodleaf was also very generous, letting us use her NEWRUINS for the project (from Geometric Primitive) that received our Marfa Open 2019 Artist of the Year recognition and prize.

The Sentinel provided us with good, meaningful photo documentation, published our event information, and calendar inclusion. Their inclusion was particularly meaningful to us, as was their beautiful workspace which allowed us to publicly create and organize in a co-working space that is open and inspiring.

Supporters like Topo Chico and Los Magos always make a big difference and play a big role in the enjoyment of our events. But, it’s the artists that make and bring the work whom we are most grateful for: Sarah Turner, Denise Prince, Charles Deluga and Anneka Goss of Geometric Primitive, JD Garcia, Maggie McCutcheon, Tyler Spurgin, Natalie Melendez, Adrian Bernal, Kamikaze Rabbit, Daisy Stackpole, Tina Rivera, Wes Thompson, Linn Phyllis Seeger, Castle Sharon, Oil Company, Helio Leon, Maya Meissner, Tina Stanley, Paul Oglesby, Mery Godigna Collet, and Emily Esperanza.

Marfa Open art events were very special for us in 2019. We found a new home for art installations in Venice, Italy and plan to expand our events there for 3 weeks in June 2020. We will continue to provide an opportunity for Marfa artists and international artists to collaborate in Marfa and at other wonderful, worthy locations in the world.

Thank you, Marfa, for your support of experimental, alternative art works.

Respectfully,

Seph Itz

Director of Marfa Open Art Festival

Marfa, TX