Donald Judd
The Cleaning and Conservation of Donald Judd’s Untitled site specific concrete sculpture, 1971
Defining Priorities: Artist’s Intentions, Natural Wear, and Periods of Interpretation
Donald Judd, a leading figure in Minimal Art, abandoned painting in the mid-1960s in favor of sculpture. Judd referred to his sculpture as “specific objects.” Using industrial materials, he created strong geometric forms that explored theoretical concepts.
The Glass House was home to many works by Donald Judd that over the years were donated to the Museum of Modern Art. Judd’s Untitled, 1971, is the single remaining piece. Acquired in a direct trade with the artist for Frank Stella’s Gur II, 1967, it is a site-specific ring of reinforced concrete, embedded in the landscape. The inner circumference is level, while the outer circumference follows the slope of the landscape. It is one of two artworks commissioned by Johnson for the site. (The other is Ibram Lassaw’s wall relief Clouds of Magellan in the Guest Bedroom, Brick House.)
The sculpture is an important part of the site’s unfolding experience. From the Entrance Gate, the driveway winds downhill, then pivots around the sculpture, directing visitors to the central courtyard of the Brick House and Glass House.
This work is believed to be the first outdoor concrete by the artist.
Current Condition
In contrast to historic photographs of the sculpture and other outdoor concrete sculptures where the surface is smooth and uniform, the surface has weathered significantly. Uneven discoloration, exposed aggregates, large cracks, and areas of loss mire the visitors’ understanding of a solid, singular form. Plantings in its center further detract from the geometry and artist’s intent.
Treatment Plan
The sculpture will undergo two phases of conservation.
The first phase consists of structural and material analyses. Cracking and loss may be due to several factors. Analysis will identify actual causes.
In December 2009, the footings were excavated in preparation for the conservation team’s examination. Examination of the footings will determine whether the sculpture is properly supported or whether it is settling unevenly. During the exam, the conservation team will also look for exposed rebar.
Rebar is a heavy gauge steel rod that acts as reinforcement, providing strength to concrete. However, exposed rebar is particularly problematic as it may draw moisture into the concrete, like a straw. Internal moisture will first result in rusting, then rust expansion will cause cracking resulting in lifting and loss if left untreated.
Moreover, the diagonal striations seen on the interior and exterior surfaces may be due to the sculpture’s fabrication. According to the original contractor, Port Draper of Louis E. Lee Company, the sculpture required two pours. Construction started in the morning. Unfortunately, the driver of the second truck got lost in the neighboring city of Stamford, so when he arrived to the site toward the end of the day, the first pour had already begun to cure. If this is the case, the sculpture may be composed of two components, rather than a single form. This may contribute to the sculpture’s deterioration, as the components expand and contract separately during seasonal changes, specifically during freeze-thaw cycles, causing pressure and strain from compression.
Lastly, mortar analysis will determine the material composition of the concrete, so repairs and infill will match the sculpture.
At the conclusion of Phase I, treatment options will be presented, and many critical conservation questions will be raised: What is the artist’s intention? Did the artist account for natural wear? Does the site’s “period of interpretation” inform the sculpture’s conservation? What takes priority, the artist’s intention or the “period of interpretation”? What historical narrative does the owner wish for the sculpture to convey? What is the current owner’s responsibility to the artwork?
Answering these questions will require dialogue between the conservation team, Glass House staff, art historians and other specialists. The final decision will determine the treatment.