BIG BEND NEWS & EVENTS

Design Marfa

Cowboy Poetry

Presidio Arts Festival

Big Bend Film Commission

1 / Alpine Mural
Alpine's Gallery Night recently funded and organized the creation of a public mural that celebrates the history and culture of the Big Bend region.
The mural was inspired by the tradition of Mexican Calendar Art - paintings that depict culturally rich moments of Mexican history and life. The ambitious project generated community involvement by having volunteers chip in and help with the painting process.
Styllle Read, an award winning and nationally recognized muralist, led the project. Read created the preliminary design for the mural, directed volunteers, and completed final touches. The result is a beautiful piece of public art highlighting the region's unique history.
See it at 104 N. 5th St. in Alpine on the South side of the Printco Building.

2 / Viva Big Bend
Viva Big Bend is the annual music festival held in, you guessed it, the Big Bend region of West Texas. In 2013, the festival hosted concerts in Alpine, Marfa, Fort Davis, and Marathon. Over 50 bands of different sizes and genres participated. If music isn't enough, there's also an art show and kid's activities. The festival was started in 2012, and has been a huge success the past two years. Get your tickets early. For information on Viva Big Bend's 2014 schedule and lineup check out vivabigbend.com. Event Date:: JULY 24-27, 2014.

3 / Presidio Arts Festival
On March 28 and 29, 2014 the city of Presidio will celebrate the work of its creative inhabitants with the 3rd annual Presidio Arts Festival.
You can expect plenty of art, music, multitalented performers, kids' events, and the Cabrito Cookoff. The

Alpine Mural

festival is currently inviting professional or amateur local and student artists to participate. Musicians, performers, and arts organizations, and local businesses are also encouraged to get involved.
If you want to volunteer, be a sponsor, or participate in any way, contact Laurie Holman at 432-295-1733 or Brad Newton at 432-229-3517. In the meantime, keep checking presidiotx.us/arts/ for information on the upcoming festival.

4 / Film in the Big Bend
The Big Bend Film Commission was founded by Alpine residents Ric Edwards and John Green after they recognized the growing interest in the Big Bend as a filming location.
The commission was formed to advertise the unique qualities of the Big Bend Region to film companies, and meet any needs of prospective filmmakers. And the need is there. Just during the last quarter of 2012, the commission received requests for location scouting and management, talent and props, and even drew the attention of a History Channel series being shot in the region. Registering with the Film Commission includes you in its online resource directory.
Production companies will hire personnel from the directory to contribute to upcoming projects in the Big Bend. You don't need any special skills, experience, or qualifications, just a desire to help filmmakers bring their projects to life.
For more information on how to get involved visit shootbigbend.com or contact Ric Edwards, Director/Co-Founder at ric@bigbend.net, JohnGreen, Director/Co-Founder at info@thealpinecompany.comor Terry "Tex" Toler, Director, Marketing Development at textoler@gmail.com.

Presidio Arts Festival

5 / DESIGN MARFA
Design Marfa is the brainchild of Buck Johnston and Laura Hajovsky. It began with the desire to raise money for a local organization but has grown into a non-profit with the goal of giving back to the community they both love.
“Our name reflects the many possible creative outlets that Marfa provides,” said Buck.  “While our initial focus was architecture and design, we are interested in doing a range of educational programs and special events that will encourage discussion about Marfa’s future and being proactive and thoughtful about how our town evolves.”
Design Marfa’s first event, the 2012 Marfa Architecture + Design Symposium and Home Tour, was such a success, it is being held again the first weekend of November 2013.  The event showcases a home tour and a day-and-a-half symposium on the topics of architecture and design.
“One of our projects for 2014 will be the launch of Bike Marfa, a bike share program that will provide access to both visitors and locals.  Riding a bicycle is a great way to experience Marfa” says Laura. “Another project we are considering for 2014 is a design competition for a Marfa train stop.  
Having a recognized flag stop

could really be a boon for Marfa tourism. The competition is a way to get the conversation started.”
Johnston is a 12-year veteran of Marfa and the owner of two creative businesses, bbgun, which develops websites and Wrong, a retail business selling original works of art and artisan creations.  Hajovsky, on the other hand, is a relative newcomer to the town, living here just shy of three years. She has a background in law and offers operational consulting services through her business Twine Consulting.
“We have a very strong working relationship.  We each bring complementary skills to the table.  But one thing we have in common is decisiveness.” said Laura. Buck added: “And we have decided to be a positive force for Marfa.”
Visit http://www.designmarfa.com for details and future events.    

6 / Cowboy Poetry
Once a year, Sul Ross University holds The Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering -  a two day event that celebrates the lives and traditions of the working cowboy through poetry, stories, and music.
Students, professionals, artists, and, of course, cowboys and girls, converge from around the region to share their pieces that try to capture the diverse range of experience in the Big Bend.
Sul Ross hosts the event on its campus. Up to ten sessions run concurrently throughout the day, and are free to all. At 7pm on Friday and Saturday, two hour long showings are held in Marshall Auditorium that showcase the featured performers. These performances cost $12.50.
The 28th annual Texas Poetry Gathering will be held on February 21 - 22, 2014. For more information visit http://texascowboypoetry.com/.

7 / Theater of the Big Bend
Theater of the Big Bend, affiliated with Sul Ross State University’s Fine Arts and Communication Department, has provided summer repertory theater at the Kokernot Outdoor Theater since 1970.  Over the past forty-eight years, 188 productions for a total of 1,145 performances have been presented.  
The Sul Ross theatre program productions throughout the year are varied and broad and include musicals, comedies, dramas, classical works and children’s plays. The Theatre of the Big Bend presents an annual musical and bilingual theatre production serving both local patrons and tourists from around the region.    
The summer theatre’s repertoire now includes a focus on works of cultural significance as well as classic musical theatre entertainment.  This year’s season will provide a fun-filled evening of musical comedy with Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s critically acclaimed Into the Woods performing June 20 – July 6. The 49th season will also feature the fifth annual Pueblo Unido festival and the beginning of the SRSU Latino Theatre Institute partnering with award winning playwright Octavio Solis. For the season schedule or advanced tickets, check the website www.sulross.edu/tobb. 

LEFT - Annie Get Your Gun (2006)
ABOVE - Anything Goes (2012)