This is the original teaser for Baby Marx, an ongoing project by Pedro Reyes that explores the intersection of mass entertainment, ideology and contemporary art. The teaser was produced for the Yokohama Triennial in Japan in 2008, and was followed by a television pilot shot in Mexico City in 2009. Reyes worked closely with Japanese master puppeteer Takumi Ota for over a year to design and build the puppets, which Reyes explains as crafted “to cast the personality of a character in the simplest form […] a silhouette.”

Read an interview with Reyes about the project here.

The final version of Baby Marx is on view at the Walker August 11 – November 27, 2011.

We’re pleased to introduce our newest staff member, Melissa McDonnell, who’s now the project manager for the Ballroom Marfa Drive-In (here she is standing with the Drive-In model, designed by MOS). Melissa just finished up her Masters at Rice in Architecture, and after stints in New York, Houston, and Paris, she’s landed in Marfa with us. Awes.

Very Very Short Q & A with Melissa
Best exhibit you last saw: DIG at Storefront for Art and Architecture in NYC
Last record you purchased: Major Lazer
Favorite meal in Marfa: a margarita at Jett’s bar
Hometown: deep in the heart of Texas

Big welcome to Melissa, and more to come about our staff. And if you have questions about the drive-in project, or want to share your thoughts, feel free to email Melissa.

We’re gearing up for our benefit in New York City on April 12, and, as part of the festivities, the performance artist Maria Jose Arjona (who performed her piece Vault at Ballroom Marfa in 2003) will contribute a new work, which requires a custom chair. Master craftsman Rob Crowley is installing the piece, as well as building the chair — and using Marfans around town to get the fit and sizing correct. Maria Jose Arjona is 5′ 3.5″, so we went on the hunt for the proper model. Check out Ketzia, Javier, and Lorna all trying out the chair.

Today we found this 1926 newspaper scrap in the Mexican Feathergrass in front of Ballroom Marfa: The story of a mysterious and palely beautiful woman and of a man who died a strange death…

Dan Tague, artist, model, genius

Here’s a photo of Dan Tague, one of our The World According to New Orleans artists, installing his piece in our back courtyard. The show opens this Friday, 18 March 2011, so don’t miss it! And if you see a male model roaming around, it’s probably just Dan…

To celebrate the opening of Immaterial, we made a replacement sign for the old Holiday Inn sign at the Capri here in Marfa, Texas. Many thanks to Rob Crowley for the idea (and all his help making it a reality).

Welcome to our new blog! Check back often for updates on Ballroom, Ballroom artists, and everything in between.