Customer Reviews

Donald Judd: Architecture in Marfa, Texas (German and English Edition)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is a great resource. The photo documentation is very extensive for each project. Its also nice to have all the plans, sections, and elevations. Flueckiger did a great job. A must have for any architect or student interested in the work of Donald Judd.

I'm naturally biased about this book because I was lucky enough to have Urs Peter Fluckiger (Upe) as a professor at Texas Tech University. In fact, he was the first person to introduce me and my fellow classmates to Donald Judd in a freshman class called Design Environment and Society. I had the opportunity to hear Upe talk personally about Donald Judd and his influence in the field of Architecture.

When I bought this book, I was eager to see how well Upe's enthusiasm and passion about Donald Judd's work and philosophies would shine through. I was very satisfied then when the book arrived. The picture of the book's cover on Amazon doesn't do it justice. It's a very beautiful book with a great feel to it. Inside are wonderful drawings depicting everything including site plans, both of Marfa, showing where all of Donald Judd's projects are, and of the individual projects themselves. Each building is shown in plan, elevation, and section; giving the reader a great understanding of all Judd's completed works.

Along side the drawings are beautiful photographs; some of which show the building's lives before Judd's touch was applied to them. The photos do a great job of documenting Judd's lifelong work and come very close to capturing what it's like to see the works in person.

Most importantly though is Upe's commentary. His words give the reader a good basic knowledge of what brought Judd to Marfa and why Judd's legacy should include his architectural abilities along side his artistic methodologies and curating beliefs. Both in German and English.

If I had one criticism of this book, it's that the book lacks more personally touches by Upe. From first hand experience, Professor Fluckiger has so many beautiful sketches, stories and memories involving Donald Judd and Marfa, TX. I'm sure he was tempted to include some little tidbits here and there, but decided against it. It would detract from the main subject at hand.

I wonder if Donald Judd would like this book? I really think he would. I never met the man, and certainly couldn't speak for him, but if I was an influential, minimalist, creative spirit who laid eyes on Marfa, TX and thought it was the perfect place to permanently present my architectural and sculptural work...I would be proud if this book was made about me and my work.

However one feels about the work of Donald Judd, whether as artist or architect, the rating system of Amazon is about the publication in question, not one's opinion of the artist's work. The one-star review of this publication appears to have nothing to do with the book, and all about the reviewer's opinion about Donald Judd' work. I found this book to be a unique and informative study of Donald Judd as architect, and I deeply regret that the publisher has failed to issue a second printing: it is a great resource.

Donald Judd was clearly an "overrated artist". He arranged a few pieces of plastic in a linear fashion and called it "art". I'm not impressed and neither am I an art snob, so I have my senses to judge the viability of his objects. Donald Judd was a businessman, nothing else, his "art" sold for millions in NYC and generated revenue for art related foundations and for profit conglomerates.

This book is his treatment after he came to Marfa, Texas in the 70's to buy up the land and create another "art" stir. The book is tedious.