by Owen Bay
theowenbay@gmail.com
Marfa Texas you have been soiled.
Playboy has recently obtained a lease on 6,500 square feet of land west of
Marfa
Yes that's right, the magazine that promotes nude women for the sake of sexy nude women.
Corporations are people. Now they are artist. :(
Marfa is over before it began
Green Day See You Tonight from
paul beck on
Vimeo.
from Hyperallefric "Were it not in the name of “art,” which anything that is erected near
Marfa is inevitably compared to and/or assumed to be. In conversation
Joe Nick Patoski,
writer and frequenter of the area since 1959, told Hyperallergic: “big
art is great; big advertising, not so much.” It is hard to disgree with
that idea. The beauty of Marfa isn’t necessarily in some untainted
authenticity — the landscape is constantly changing — but it is rooted
in some degree of isolation from the cacophany of 21st century life.
Which is perhaps part of why Anthony DeSimone, a musician, chef, and
resident of Marfa for the past six years, declined to saying anything to
Hyperallergic except: “Worst thing to ever happen here. End of story.”
Just like SXSW in Austin Texas, Marfa will embrace corporate logos. $
artist rendition by
Paul Beck
Keep Marfa Logo$
here is what people are saying on Hyperallergic:
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Kind of perfect commentary of how
sex and art are both re-staged as commodities. Is David Zwirner the
co-sponsor of this ad along with Hugh Heffner?
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Oh boo hoo what will the
architects, old fart and new fart minimalists and designers do now that
their weird snobby hangout has been tarnished.
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Marfa residents aren't just "up
in arms" about the issue of taste - though in my opinion the decision to
erect this neon sign displays pretty poor taste - but there is a
counties-wide dark skies ordnance. Less than an hour's drive away is the
McDonald Observatory, where top-notch scientists conduct astronomical
research on a daily basis. Residents and businesses of the surrounding
towns of Fort Davis, Alpine, and Marfa have agreed to keep bright lights
out of the atmosphere in order to limit light pollution. This big
honkin' neon sign 40 miles away definitely violates this ordnance. It
isn't necessary, it doesn't reflect the culture of the town or region,
and it's blatant light pollution.
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I was thinking the same thing. I
haven't been to Marfa in years, but it was the darkest place I'd ever
seen at night -- absolutely gorgeous skies. And is this in the vicinity
of the famous Marfa Lights?
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The purpose of art in any form is
expression! Despite however you feel about the Playboy connotation,
which has always embraced the freedom of expression, the sign itself is a
beautiful structure and very cleverly engineered. The sign was built
and Installed by Ion Art, a sign and fabrication company in Austin, TX.
They do fantastic work!
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It is a glowing interruption to
an otherwise dark and gorgeous countryside inhabited by people who like
to see stars. Their freedom of expression is trampling on others freedom
to see the sky - which is why people live in this area.
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corporations are people. Now they are artist. :(
Marfa is over before it began
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Some of us might hope that the
juxtaposition of the "bunny" and the iconic muscle car is a comment on
the archaic philosophy attached to the Playboy organization.
Unfortunately, maybe it is only all that it seems. a gimmick.
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I'll bet there would have been fewer complaints if someone like, say, Jeff Koons had done this.
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Let's stick a neon playboy bunny
in your backyard and see if you ask who created the idea before
complaining.. No, it does not matter who created the schlock - it's
still schlock.
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Someone like Jeff Koons did do this. Not quite as good, but definitely in the same mold.
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First thing I thought of was target practice. But I'd have a look.
"USA #1" by Paul Beck one of Austin Texas top visual artist
