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Photos: Agave Festival Marfa returns with a celebration of the art, history and culture of the Chihuahuan Desert

Marfa Public Radio | By Carlos Morales,
Annie Rosenthal, Mitch Borden
Published June 5, 2023 at 11:00 AM CDT
Carlos Morales
/
Marfa Public Radio

From June 1 to 4, Agave Festival Marfa brought scholars and artists to Far West Texas to celebrate agave and the culture, art and history of the borderland. The festival’s events included panels on the state of agave spirits, talks from prominent authors and guided tours through the Chihuahuan desert.

The festival also included live music from local artists like Remijio “Primo” Carrasco, who performed at the El Cosmico campgrounds along with Grupo Ambición and the Marfa Municipal Alliance of Dead Country and Folk Singers.
Carlos Morales
/
Marfa Public Radio
The festival also included live music from local artists like Remijio “Primo” Carrasco, who performed at the El Cosmico campgrounds along with Grupo Ambición and the Marfa Municipal Alliance of Dead Country and Folk Singers.
Michelle García, whose work has focused on the U.S.-Mexico border over much of the last two decades, was one of the speaker's featured during the festival. García spoke about what she calls “border theater,” and the role it plays in the American imagination.
Carlos Morales
/
Marfa Public Radio
One of the event's panels focused on the recent efforts to protect Presidio's Cementerio del Barrio de los Lipanes, a sacred site to the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas. Panelists included Indigenous voices of the Big Bend and architects with the firm designing a protective structure around the site.
Carlos Morales
/
Marfa Public Radio
One of the event's panels focused on the recent efforts to protect Presidio's Cementerio del Barrio de los Lipanes, a sacred site to the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas. Panelists included Indigenous voices of the Big Bend and architects with the firm designing a protective structure around the site.
On June 3, as part of the festival, Kelly Lytle Hernández read from her book “Bad Mexicans: Race, Empire, and Revolution in the Borderlands.” The book tells the story of a group of migrant rebels who sparked the Mexican Revolution from inside the U.S
Carlos Morales
/
Marfa Public Radio
During this year's Agave Festival, Kelly Lytle Hernández read from her book “Bad Mexicans: Race, Empire, and Revolution in the Borderlands.” The book tells the story of a group of migrant rebels who sparked the Mexican Revolution from inside the U.S.
On Sunday, festival attendees gathered in Presidio to visit the Cementerio del Barrio de los Lipanes. Architects with MASS Design Group and members of the local Indigenous community led a tour of an ongoing construction project that aims to protect the cemetery and preserve its history without making it feel inaccessible.
Annie Rosenthal
/
Marfa Public Radio
On June 4, festival attendees gathered in Presidio to visit the Cementerio del Barrio de los Lipanes. Architects with MASS Design Group and members of the local Indigenous community led a tour of an ongoing construction project that aims to protect the cemetery and preserve its history without making it feel inaccessible.
Christina Hernandez, whose ancestor is buried at the Cementerio del Barrio de los Lipanes, addresses the group gathered to learn about the site. Hernandez is an enrolled member of the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas, and her family has taken care of the graves at the cemetery for decades. She and other local Indigenous community members like Xoxi Nayapiltzin, left, worked with architects including Mayrah Udvardi, right, to develop the protective design.
Annie Rosenthal
/
Marfa Public Radio
Christina Hernandez, whose ancestor is buried at the Cementerio del Barrio de los Lipanes, addresses the group gathered to learn about the site. Hernandez is an enrolled member of the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas, and her family has taken care of the graves at the cemetery for decades. She and other local Indigenous community members like Xoxi Nayapiltzin, left, worked with architects including Mayrah Udvardi, right, to develop the protective design.
During the four-day festival, renowned agricultural ecologist Gary Nabhan spoke about the culture of agave and biodiversity. Nabhan recently co-authored a book journey into the past, present, and future of mezcal.
Mitch Borden
/
Marfa Public Radio
During the four-day festival, renowned agricultural ecologist Gary Nabhan spoke about the culture of agave and biodiversity. Nabhan's latest book, which he co-authored with restauranteur David Suro Pinera, explores the past, present and future of mezcals.

Arts & Culture
Carlos Morales
Carlos worked at Marfa Public Radio from 2017 to 2024, first as a reporter and Morning Edition host and later as News Director.
See stories by Carlos Morales
Annie Rosenthal
Annie Rosenthal was Marfa Public Radio's Border Reporter, a role she held in partnership with Report for America. She worked at the station from 2021 to 2024.
See stories by Annie Rosenthal
Mitch Borden
Mitch Borden is Permian Basin Reporter & All Things Considered Host at Marfa Public Radio.
See stories by Mitch Borden