"In the present century of the destruction one way or another of cities and land, preservation, conservation, and restoration have become some of the most necessary and positive and unlikely acts." —Donald Judd In November 1991, Donald Judd wrote a letter to the editor of the Big Bend Sentinel protesting the proposed demolition of El Corazón Sagrado de la Iglesia de Jesús, an adobe church in Ruidosa, Texas. This letter marked the end of a decade-long effort by Judd and Chinati to get permission to restore the church. Having made no progress, Chinati abandoned its efforts, and the building continued to deteriorate. Twenty-eight years later, in August 2019, Friends of the Ruidosa Church (@ruidosachurch) took up the restoration effort of the adobe church and have made incredible progress in just four years. Friends of the Ruidosa Church is a nonprofit formed to assume ownership of the property, raise money, oversee the church's restoration, manage the property as a community center, and honor its unique historical and architectural legacy. On Saturday, November 5, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m., they will hold the second annual Community Day at the church in Ruidosa. The celebration features artists and performers from both sides of the border, free food and drinks, and a special lighting ceremony at dusk/6:00 p.m. Chinati applauds the necessary, positive, and exceptional work of Friends of the Ruidosa Church and encourages everyone to attend their Community Day and support their efforts. To read more about Friends of the Ruidosa Church, visit http://www.ruidosachurch.org/. — #FriendsoftheRuidosaChurch #ChinatiFoundation #DonaldJudd #Marfa #adobe #adoberestoration Donald Judd, “La Misión del Sagrado Corazón,”* in “Donald Judd: Architektur.” Münser, Germany: Westfälischer Kunstverein,1989. (*While Judd titled his statement "La Misión del Sagrado Corazón", the preferred name of the church is El Corazón Sagrado de la Iglesia de Jesús) Photos courtesy Friends of the Ruidosa Church