What do Grouper, Jefre Cantu-Ledesma, minimalist artist Donald Judd, and straight-up aliens from outer space all have in common? If you guessed, “They all have in the past or will in the future party in Marfa, Texas,” then you, my friend probably don’t even need to read this news post and are hereby excused. The rest of you, though, you should stick around, you might learn a thing or two about the New Myths cultural program going down in Marfa, Texas. Like, for instance that it’s curated by Mexican Summer and co-presented with Ballroom Marfa. I’ll bet you didn’t even know that until just now when you learned it. In the next paragraph, I will use numbers and letters to teach you even more.
New Myths is planned for March 13-15, and it’ll feature performances from the likes of Steve Gunn, Bitchin Bajas, Weyes Blood, Thug Entrancer, Suicideyear, and more. Beyond that, Jefre Cantu-Ledesma will create a “sound bath,” Liz Harris (a.k.a. Grouper) will present a “semi-permanent outdoor mural” (though it looks like she won’t be performing music [update: she will be! on Saturday!), there’ll be a live installation of Gregg Kowalsky’s “Tape Chants,” and several short film screenings. Dev Hynes and Connan Mockasin will also post up in a recording residency that will result in a limited 12-inch documenting the collaboration. Basically, there’s a lot of things going on all at once while everybody keeps on not talking about the very real aliens chilling just outside city limits. It’s like it’s a conspiracy or something.
Anyway, this is the second year for the event that kicked off last year, and if you’d like to see it happen more, and more expansively, consider reaching your bony arm deep into the event organizers’ collective pockets and depositing some money there for tickets to Saturday (Friday and Sunday are both free). There’s even a special “weekend bundle” price that gets you entrance all weekend in addition to a copy of that limited 12-inch I was talking about up top, a tote bag, and a journal featuring work from both some of the performers and a variety of Marfa-based artists. Grip them via Mexican Summer, and peep the full events rundown below.
Friday, March 13
• Sam Falls solo exhibition - Ballroom Marfa
• Software Recording Co. presents: GABI, Thug Entrancer, Co La - Ballroom Marfa
• Liz Harris’ painting available for viewing at 201 E. Dallas Street all weekend and beyond
Saturday, March 14
• Sound Bath with Jefre Cantu-Ledesma - The Well
• “Tape Chants” with Gregg Kowalsky - Building 98
• Mexican Summer presents: Iceage, Grouper, Tamaryn, Steve Gunn, Weyes Blood - The Capri
• Bitchin Bajas’, Suicideyear, LBS. - Foodsharkland
Sunday, March 15
• CineMarfa & Anthology Recordings film program - Crowley Theater
• Mexican Summer: http://www.mexicansummer.com
• Ballroom Marfa: https://ballroommarfa.org