Ballroom Marfa commissioned the large-scale outdoor stone circle from Haroon Mirza in 2018. Inspired by ancient megaliths, this solar-powered sculpture is open to the public in the high desert grasslands just east of Marfa. Plan your visit around the full moon to see the stones come to life. The stone circle will remain in the landscape for the next several years.
Mirza’s stone circle refers to prehistoric monuments such as Stonehenge and Nine Ladies, standing stones erected by humans and used for mysterious practices of communion with the Earth. Each of the eight stones in the circle is carved to integrate LED lights and embedded speakers. The ninth stone, the “mother” stone, sits apart, mounted with solar panels that charge a bank of batteries to power a sound and light score that is activated with each full moon. Visit on a full moon to hear for yourself the complex patterns of electronic sound and light translated from energy generated by the sun.
To date, this project is Ballroom’s most ambitious public commission since Elmgreen & Dragset’s Prada Marfa from 2005. The stone circle is the second major movement from Mirza’s Solar Symphonies series, and will remain in the landscape for the next several years. The sculpture impacted our local community through partnerships developed with Freedom Solar, the largest solar energy provider in Texas, who converted dozens of local homes and businesses to solar power during the installation of the artwork.
