Chinati Foundation facts for kids
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| Established | 1986 |
|---|---|
| Location | 1 Cavalry Row, Marfa, Texas, United States |
| Type | Art Museum |
The Chinati Foundation is a unique art museum located in Marfa, Texas. It was created by a famous artist named Donald Judd. This museum is special because it focuses on showing large art pieces that are meant to stay in one place forever.
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What is the Chinati Foundation?
The main goal of Chinati is to keep and show big art installations by a few artists. These artworks are often connected to the land around them. Donald Judd believed that art should be carefully placed and not moved. He wanted Chinati to be a place where modern art could be seen exactly as the artist intended. It's like a special example of how art and its surroundings work together.
History of the Museum
The Chinati Foundation is built on 340 acres of land. This land used to be an old army base called Fort D. A. Russell. Some of the museum's buildings are also in the center of Marfa town.
Donald Judd first visited Marfa in 1971. He liked it so much that he moved there from New York in 1977. Work on the museum started in 1979. The Chinati Foundation officially opened to the public in 1986. It is a non-profit organization, meaning it's not run for money.
Chinati was first planned to show art by Donald Judd, John Chamberlain, and Dan Flavin. Over the years, the museum grew. Now, its permanent collection includes works by many other artists. Some of these artists are Carl Andre, Roni Horn, and Richard Long. Each artist's work is shown in its own building or outdoor space. The museum also has temporary exhibits that change regularly.
Judd's big idea for Chinati was to combine art, buildings, and nature. He wanted them to all fit together perfectly.
In 2016, a new large art piece opened at Chinati. It is called untitled (dawn to dusk) by artist Robert Irwin. This artwork is a concrete building that was built inside the old hospital ruins at Fort D. A. Russell. It uses light and space in a very interesting way.
In 2022, the Chinati Foundation was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
Who Leads Chinati?
The museum has had several directors over the years:
- 1994–2010: Marianne Stockebrand
- 2011–2012: Thomas Kellein
- 2013–2022: Jenny Moore
- 2023– : Caitlin Murray
Art Collection Highlights
The Chinati Foundation has many important artworks. Here are some of the artists and their works you can see:
| Artist | Work |
|---|---|
| Carl Andre | Words, 1958–1972
Chinati Thirteener, 2010 |
| Donald Judd | 100 untitled works in mill aluminum, 1982–1986
15 untitled works in concrete, 1980–1984 The Arena, 1980–1987 |
| Ilya Kabakov | School No. 6, 1993 |
| John Chamberlain | Various works, 1972–1983 |
| Richard Long | Sea Lava Circles, 1988 |
| Dan Flavin | untitled (Marfa project), 1996 |
| Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen | Monument to the Last Horse, 1991 |
| Roni Horn | Things That Happen Again, Pair Object VII (For a Here and a There), 1986–1988 |
| Robert Irwin | untitled (dawn to dusk), 2016 |
Community Programs
The Chinati Foundation also has programs for the community. These programs help connect the museum with local people and other schools.
- Artist in Residence Program: Started by Judd in 1989, this program invites artists from all over the world. They get to create and show their art in Marfa.
- Internship Program: Students can get hands-on experience working at the museum.
- Art Classes: Every summer, the museum offers art classes for local students.
- Newsletter: Since 1995, Chinati has published a newsletter in English and Spanish. You can find old issues online or at the museum's bookstore.
Visiting the Museum
The Chinati Foundation is open to visitors. It was closed for a while during the COVID-19 pandemic but has since reopened.
If you want to visit, the closest airports are in El Paso and Midland/Odessa. From either airport, it's about a three-hour drive to Marfa.
