Having so many great pickers in one place created a swirling, colorful, magical “porch circle” last night.
Danny and Trevor Hickle, Patrick Smith, Jeff Haislip, Janna Lavin, Collie Ryan, and many more… as the sun set over the Chisos, the music whirled around the porch like an aural tornado.
Later, the music continued at the High Sierra, where Bo Porter and “Schindler’s List” played to a packed house.
The Terlingua Music Bash continued Wednesday night.
The open mic that, in previous years, was held at La Kiva moved to the High Sierra this year. Al Barlow hosted the show, Jeffro Greasewood ran sound and security, and the music was pretty amazing.
Al Barlow and his crew of singer/songwriters from all over are arriving for the 20th annual Terlingua Music Bash. There are live music events happening at the High Sierra, the Boathouse, and the Starlight Theatre this week.
I’ll try to get a schedule… the only one I’ve seen was in Al’s hand, and it was a rough draft.
And, just in time, the Boathouse is open- with Gumby and Sierra behind the bar.
Here are some pics from Tuesday night- stay tuned, there’s gonna be lots more.
Marfa, during the Chinati Weekend art walk, is worth doing- to look at the art and to watch the people looking at the art.
Marfa is artsy on any given day. During the Chinati weekend, Marfa goes all out.
Terlingua/Marfa photographer, Jessica Lutz, had invited us to her opening/exhibit. Walking out of the Paisano after a delightful dinner, we noticed a woman giving away wine and mixed nuts on the sidewalk in front of the gallery there.
She explained that it was Chinati Weekend. I asked a nearby sculptor what that meant. He said, “it’s when people come to Marfa to give money to the Chinati foundation and look at local art.”
I asked him if anybody bought the local art and he said, “I’m hoping. Usually not.”
Jessica and Ka Yoll held their exhibit in an abandoned house. There was art in the ballroom, art in the warehouses, art on the street… everywhere you looked there was another art exhibit, filled with hip-chic people looking at art.
Following the wedding (Click HERE for that), Brittany, Billy and a few hundred of their friends and family adjourned to the Starlight Theatre in the Terlingua Ghost Town for a subdued and sober celebration.
There was a buffet dinner that tasted distinctly home-made- locally home-made. There was beer. There was a reggae band from El Paso.
I’ve tried to organize these pics so they tell the story. They’re unedited, for the most part, although I did play with a couple of them. I’ll get with the newlyweds later and find out which pics they want properly edited.
This was a uniquely Terlingua party. I got to meet people who have moved away but live on in stories and legends – and come home for parties.
As you can see from the pics, a good time was had by all.
Yesterday, Brittany and Billy hosted a beautiful celebration on the banks of the Rio Grande. And in the Rio Grande.
Later, there was an intimate gathering at the Starlight Theatre for a few hundred of their closest friends and family.
I took over 1,000 photos yesterday – whew! I chose a few to put up so you can share the experience. It was wonderful!
I’m putting these up so you can get an idea of what it was like. They’re nowhere near “ready for prime time.” At some point, I’ll sit down with the newlyweds and identify which shots they want me to focus on.
Last weekend was about as “Terlingua” as you can get.
Saturday there was a big benefit at the American Legion post at Terlingua Ranch to raise money to buy food for the Terlingua Crisis Center food distribution program.
George Goss and Webb Abbot and the “Sons of the Legion” put on a day of skeet-shooting, axe-throwing, prizes, cake-walks and music. Oh yea- there was also a tuna steak dinner that absolutely rocked.
The music continued Sunday at the High Sierra. Jeffro Greasewood is back in town having successfully grown several inches and a huge smile. Jeff Haislip hosted an open mic that started on the stage, moved into the dining room and ended up outside in the new outdoor bar.
If you’re in the Big Bend, you can get your copy of Terlingua Music– the photo-book at the Trading Post near the Starlight Theatre or the General Store in Lajitas.
If you’re in some strange and exotic location, for example, North of Alpine, Texas, you can grab your copy now at Amazon.com.