Prada Marfa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prada Marfa |
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| Artist | Elmgreen and Dragset |
| Year | 2005 |
| Type | Adobe, plaster, paint, glass panes, aluminum frames, MDF, carpet |
| Dimensions | 15 ft × 25 ft (4.6 m × 7.6 m) |
| Location | US 90, Valentine, Texas |
| 30°36′12″N 104°31′07″W / 30.60346°N 104.51850°W | |
Prada Marfa is a cool art project by artists Elmgreen and Dragset. It's a permanent sculpture and art installation that looks just like a Prada store! You can find it near Valentine, Texas, right off U.S. Highway 90. It's about 26 miles (42 km) northwest of the city of Marfa.
This unique art piece opened on October 1, 2005. The artists called it a "pop architectural land art project." This means it's a piece of art that uses buildings and is placed in a specific outdoor location. It was built with help from American architects Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello. The project cost about $120,000 to create.
The artists first planned for the building to slowly fall apart over time. But this idea changed quickly! Right after it was finished, people broke in and stole things. They also spray-painted the outside. Because of this, the plan was changed to repair and protect the artwork.
Contents
What is Prada Marfa?
The Building and Its Contents
The building looks exactly like a real Prada store. It's made from "adobe bricks, plaster, paint, glass panes, aluminum frames, MDF, and carpet." The front door doesn't actually open, so you can't go inside.
Through the two big front windows, you can see real Prada items. These include shoes and handbags from Prada's fall/winter 2005 collection. Miuccia Prada, who runs Prada, even let the artists use the Prada name for their artwork.
Choosing the Location
Elmgreen and Dragset first wanted to put their sculpture somewhere else. They thought about a "Prada Nevada" but couldn't find support there. Then, a group from New York City called the Art Production Fund (APF) helped them. They connected the artists with Ballroom Marfa in Marfa, Texas. This place is a well-known center for modern art and culture.
So, the installation ended up being placed northwest of Marfa, near Valentine, Texas. A local artist named Boyd Elder helped take care of the artwork there.
Meaning Behind the Art
Prada had worked with Elmgreen and Dragset before, back in 2001. At that time, the artists put up a fake "Opening soon—PRADA" sign on a gallery in New York City.
Prada Marfa is located quite close to Donald Judd's Chinati Foundation. This foundation is famous for its large-scale art installations. Prada Marfa is a "site-specific" artwork. This means its meaning is strongly connected to where it is placed. It's often compared to other art styles like minimalism and land art, which also depend on their location.
The sculpture can make people think about consumerism (buying lots of things), fancy brands, and gentrification (when an area becomes more expensive and changes). Some people think it criticizes these ideas. Others believe it might actually make them stronger, even if that wasn't the artists' original plan. Around the bottom of the building, many people have left their business cards, held down by small rocks.
Vandalism and Repairs
First Incident
On the very night Prada Marfa officially opened, someone broke into the building. They stole its contents, which were six handbags and 14 right-footed shoes. The words "Dumb" and "Dum Dum" were also spray-painted on the side walls.
The sculpture was quickly fixed. The new items put inside have a security system. This system alerts authorities if the items are moved. After this, the sculpture got a lot of attention from news all over the world.
Later Incidents
In March 2014, vandals painted the building light blue. They also hung fake logos for Toms Shoes from the awnings. A paper with a political message was taped to the door. Ballroom Marfa, the art center, said they were very upset about the damage. They promised to fix the site.
A Texas artist, Joe Magnano, was later caught. He was 32 years old at the time. He admitted to causing damage to the property. He agreed to pay Ballroom Marfa $10,700 for the repairs. He also paid a fine of $1,000.
Images for kids
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Prada Marfa plaque, March 2012
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Graffiti on the back of Prada Marfa, May 2013
