(DCA) Daniel Calderon Arenas

Code-based visual artist working with blockchain

[Manuel Lariño ☔️ @ManuelLarino]

UPSTREAM #1/100

Co-created with @DaCaldera during the @artblocks_io Artist Fair in Marfa.

The very first of 100 unique, one-of-a-kind collectible cards, each shaped by collaboration, randomness, and a little bit of magic 🪄

Thanks for being part of it! 🙌🏼

[Nuk @nukCZ_]

Dear Marfa,

Words will fail me but I will try.

The one that kept appearing was gratitude. I don’t know what I did to deserve this luck but weekends like this shine the spotlight and make me repeatedly ask, “why me?”.

Another that kept showing up was contrast.
So many things I love have a natural contrast to them.
Drinking hot coffee on a cold morning.
Ambient music played loud.
Unassuming experiences that turn into deeply cherished memories.

Beautiful contrasts followed us all weekend:
The light and shadows around Chinati.
The diversity of people I interacted with but the togetherness I felt.
The craziness of our world around us, but the calmness of knowing I was exactly where I should be.

I really hope I have the opportunity to come back. Next time with my wife and daughter. That would be the only way I can adequately explain this to them. There is an authenticity and warmth of Marfa that can’t be described. The closest thing is the warmth of being home.

Thank you @ArtOnBlockchain and Art Blocks.

Thank you to all the amazing people from all over the world that make this space so special, even those that weren’t physically there. We felt your presence everywhere.

Thank you to my wife for allowing me to go on this adventure.

Not only was this my first Marfa journey, but I got to share it with my sister too.

A truly wonderful weekend.
Art and friendship makes the world a great place.
I’m just really grateful.

Love,
Nuk

[Giannis Sourdis (🦉,🦉) @Greekdx]

I have massive amounts of FOMO right now. Don't mind missing other trips that much but missing Marfa hurts.

Have fun y'all 🥲

Marfa Yucca #204 by @DaCaldera

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

Johann Sebastian Bach is the Shakespeare of music. Best there ever was.

[Stephen McKeon @sbmckeon]

On Thursday, Oct 22, we're throwing the AB Weekend opening party at 114 in Marfa with @OpenSea and @ArtBlocks. It's the most work I've ever put into an event, and the first time everyone will get to see the rebuilt space. Here's the back story…

[Stephen McKeon @sbmckeon]

It's that time of year again where I feel compelled to post the Marfa Field Guide article. Some basic tips for first time visitors. Slightly revised for 2026. Enjoy! https://t.co/R4ktPcyN4Z

[(DCA) Daniel Calderon Arenas @DaCaldera]

@akasteveyyy 👽 🛸 🌵 ☝️

[Amanda ⛲️ @akasteveyyy]

Almost 2 weeks til Art Blocks Weekend and Uptober is upon us, glorious

Who am I seeing at Planet Marfa? Show yourselves!

[Artbot @artbotartbot]

Genesis #470
by DCA

acquired for 0.5211 ETH ($1,416.26)

view: https://t.co/jSmEnmESWf

[Stephen McKeon @sbmckeon]

For those who have been to Marfa previously, you may recall a beat up building, Christopher's, next door to glitch. My wife and I bought it and have been rehabbing it for the past nine months to get it ready to host events during Art Blocks Weekend in a few weeks. I'll have a lot more to say about our ABW plans soon, but in the meantime you can follow along with the remodel project here: https://t.co/c49JRuWd5D

[Erick / Snowfro / 🦩 / LAO / #️⃣ / 🔴 @ArtOnBlockchain]

It's 2026 and your computer does not natively understand what a blockchain is. https://t.co/R4fWmiA8dg

[Art Blocks @artblocks_io]

Today we're announcing ABX, a free and open-source protocol for documenting anything digital on the blockchain, powered by Art Blocks.

Bring your own wallet, or sign up with an email. We'll even cover your gas.

We're starting with @Base, other chains coming soon™. 

https://t.co/dpm60CcHkW

[(DCA) Daniel Calderon Arenas @DaCaldera]

@justinaversano @harvey_rayner @dotjiwa Awesome initiative! Thank you!

[justinaversano @justinaversano]

In light of our recent Marfa announcement dedicating a budget for artists participating this year, we went ahead and collected past Marfa themed artwork by @DaCaldera, @harvey_rayner, & @dotjiwa 🙌

If you have Marfa art! Share it with us so we can support ⭐️

[(DCA) Daniel Calderon Arenas @DaCaldera]

Genesis is really simple, just some shapes and some colors. But the variation is infinite.

The proof-of-concept project for Art Blocks

[Art Blocks @artblocks_io]

Art Blocks Lore 📖

We began testing our proof-of-concept Genesis Project as early as May 2018.

Genesis was proof that onchain art could be algorithmically sophisticated and visually compelling, while benefiting from the blockchain's distinct advantages of immutability and provable uniqueness. Genesis used blockchain hash data to create original iterations of art, specific to both the transacting wallet and the moment in time the user transacted. 

Genesis by @DaCaldera, one of the first three fully onchain projects on the new Art Blocks platform, launched for collectors in November 2020.

[jules @nicedayJules]

gm, from Marfa

If you’re a patron of the arts and interested in supporting this year’s chapter in the desert...

I’d be grateful to have you involved.
Please get in touch!

[(DCA) Daniel Calderon Arenas @DaCaldera]

@FLAMINGODAO #284 has nested vertical rectangles in quiet violet, peachy, and olive colors. Pickup-sticks over a diagonal grid. Glad this one lives with you!

[Jonas @jonaslamis]

Let’s Go! @remountco ready with 500+ vehicles of interest. Join us!

[Travis LeRoy Southworth @travisleroy]

A month of work in Marfa comes together today. I’ll be presenting There Will Be Signs at Art Blocks Gallery. The generative work, physical signs, and plans for installations across town this October.

Much of the work has grown out of moving through Marfa and the surrounding landscape, photographing signs, symbols, roads, shadows, textures, and the small visual details that begin to form a language of their own.

Saturday, August 29th
Reception 4 PM / Presentation 4:30 PM

Thank you to @ArtBlocks_io and @OpenSea for the time, space, and support to develop this project.

—
Art Blocks × OpenSea
2026 Marfa Artist Residency

[(DCA) Daniel Calderon Arenas @DaCaldera]

@jeffgdavis @revdancatt @toThePixel It’s from Axidraw, the old axidraws shipped with one of these as a plotting surface to mount the paper on. Today’s version is a steel plate with tiny magnets.