“Permanent installations and careful maintenance are crucial to the autonomy and integrity of art to its defense...”
                        Donald Judd, In Defense of My Work (1977)
 

May 21, 2009

Dear Friends,

I am very pleased to announce Judd Foundation’s publication of the Guidelines for the Care and Handling of Donald Judd Works in Metal, which was written by Eleonora Nagy, a leading conservator and published author on Judd works in metal. Produced with support from Judd Foundation’s Advisory Committee on Conservation and Restoration (ACCR), the manual provides technical knowledge on proven maintenance and treatment practices that can prevent permanent damage to Judd works, and is the first publication for what will become a series of manuals for Judd works in various media.

 

The Guidelines serve as the first step in a series of institutional developments intended to promote a more comprehensive understanding of Judd’s artistic legacy. Reflecting new information culled from the Foundation’s archives and interviews with fabricators and studio assistants to record first-hand accounts of Judd’s fabrication process, the Guidelines are an invaluable tool for collectors and conservators who come to us for advice. Once all the sections in the series are published, they will play a vital role in safeguarding against unintended damage to Judd’s work.

 

The Guidelines for the Care and Handling of Donald Judd Works in Metal are designed to provide a basic understanding of Donald Judd’s three-dimensional works in metal, to raise awareness of the fragility of industrial metals, and to aid in safe maintenance and damage prevention of Judd works in these materials. The primary focus of the text is to provide information on the fabrication process and to address improper handling that may result in damage to Judd works. Intended as a resource for all those who own or handle Judd works, the Guidelines promote the appropriate description, installation, and storage of Judd works to ensure their longevity.

 

The Guidelines are now available online at www.juddfoundation.org/guidelines as a research tool for conservators, collectors, museum professionals and all those who handle Judd works, and a printed version will subsequently be released. Additional publications will complete the series, starting with the Guidelines for the Care and Handling of Donald Judd Works in Wood, which will be published in 2010.

 

We look forward to updating you on the upcoming series of projects that Judd Foundation is conducting to promote a wider understanding of Judd’s legacy.

 

 

With best wishes for a wonderful summer,

 

 

Barbara Hunt McLanahan
Executive Director