The Black Marfa Experience

Artist and composer Lisa E Harris is inviting a select group of Black artists, musicians, curators, and community members from Harris County to journey to Marfa, Texas as a road trip performance called The Black Marfa Experience. This special public art performance taking place on Labor Day weekend, will highlight dreaming, deep listening, community exchange, fellowship, fun and leisure, all while getting to know the vast Texas history and state parks along the journey. This public performance allows for reflections on the legacy of freedom fighters, great migrations, Juneteenth, Black Labor across Texas including the touring culture of traveling musicians and Buffalo soldiers. The road trip itself will be documented and preserved as an archive, to be shared in future artworks and public assemblies by the artist. Once the travelers reach Marfa, they will be welcomed by Harris who has a special live performance D.RE.A.M.= A WAY TO AFRAM on Sept 2 at Ballroom Marfa. The travelers are invited to the performance and the following reception. Additionally, travelers are invited to see Harris’ current solo exhibition and sound installation UNLIT: SOF LANDIN, on view at Ballroom Marfa until Sept 16. The travelers are further encouraged to explore the local sites and state parks that would normally be out of reach for them to experience. There will be volunteer tour guides on site with suggestions and day plans for those interested. Harris will return to Houston with the group on Sept 3. The road trip will be sonically supported by the sounds of Houston’s own DJ Elevated as well as unique listening excerpts of Harris’ duration sound work currently on view. Travelers will secure their own housing for two nights at a suggested hotel in nearby Alpine, Texas.