On a vintage English bike, a “Robin Hood” three speed, Marfa artist Julie Speed rides to her studio every morning to paint the images in her head. Vito, a beautiful redheaded Amazon parrot of nearly 30 years, keeps the artist company in her spacious gallery and painting studio. Speed shared with me what she like most about Marfa:
“The clouds. There are makes and models of clouds I’ve never seen anywhere else. I call it the cloud showroom on the universe.”
Julie Speed was born in Chicago, moved to Texas in 1978 and Marfa in 2006. Speed Art 2003 – 2009, chronicling the artist’s work since 2003, will be published by UT Press in October 2009.
Everett Taasevigen is a Houston photographer.
Also by Everett Taasevigen:
Glass Houses 9: Steve Brudniak
Glass Houses 8: David Aylsworth
