The piece is on the old tennis court of Fort D.A. Russell, a surface which I formerly thought was simply a contrast to the material, Icelandic lava rock. Now that Marfa is happily in rainy season, I understand the tennis court as a slight depression in the ground which briefly collects water and reflects the piece post-storm. In reading about both Donald Judd's and Ilya Kabakov's work (Long's neighbors in Chinati's collection), it seems a common thread in these works is an invitation to view them with a childlike questioning--what is this thing, physically? is that sheet opaque or translucent? is that solid or open space? or even, sans words. To view the piece without the curiosity of a child is to leave the piece incomplete.
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