Car Tripping

…and a Birthday!

As of early July Pima County (Arizona) has a 70% vaccination rate among adults and 92.9% over 65 have received at least one dose. It’s why I feel relatively safe playing gigs in town.

But, I’m not yet comfortable just getting in the car, checking into motels, and cruising across the country. Maybe if we had a camper unit of some kind. But, if you are so inclined, there are numerous articles floating about for places to go.

One article you might enjoy that also tosses art into the mix is from artnet.com, posted on June 18th, and is titled “4 Unforgettable Land Art Road Trips.”

The second location in the article is Donald Judd’s 15 Works in Concrete (1980–84) at the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas. Connie and I made the pilgrimage in 2003, and stayed a few days exploring the area. We also made the loop from Alpine down to Terlingua, cruised along the Rio Grande, and back to Marfa. While in Marfa we lodged at the infamous Hotel Paisano. (the photos below of the Paisano and the Rio Grande were shot as panoramas, which I was learning at the time with my work at the University of Arizona)

I’m sure Marfa has changed quite a bit since 2003 and many of these empty buildings may be now occupied.

Marfa Main Street, 2003

The Brite Building, Marfa, Texas, 2003

John Chamberlain sculpture, shot through a warehouse window

Deserted grocery store building, Marfa, Texas, 2003

Chinati Warehouse housing Donald Judd’s work, 2003

Inside the above warehouse, 2003

Empty building near the warehouse, Chinati Foundation, 2003

Hotel Paisano Courtyard, Marfa, Texas, 2003

Hotel Paisano Lobby, Marfa, Texas, 2003

Hotel Paisano Lounge, Marfa, Texas, 2003

The Rio Grande near Terlingua, Texas, 2003

If you venture out this summer, safe travels!

On another quick subject, here’s a shout-out to my brother Greg who turns 70 today. Where did the time go?

Me and older brother Greg, Riley, Kansas, 1958

And now…