Untitled

early 1970s

Annual trips to Baja California

In the early 1970s Judd begins to make annual trips to Baja California with his family. The clean, empty desert affects him deeply, and his strong attachment to the land stays with him for the rest of his life.

early 1970s

Switches to unpainted plywood

In the early 1970s Judd starts using unpainted plywood, which he embraces for its durable structural qualities: it lets him enlarge his works without bending or buckling. Plywood had been a staple of his art before, but never unpainted.

1972

Peter Ballantine becomes his main plywood fabricator

In 1972 Judd appoints Peter Ballantine, a former student of the Whitney Independent Study Program, as the primary fabricator of his plywood works.

1975

First collection of his writings: 1959–1975

In 1975 “Donald Judd: Complete Writings 1959–1975” appears (Halifax, Nova Scotia / New York); during his lifetime it is followed by the volume for 1975–1986 (1987), “Architektur” (Münster, 1989) and “Écrits 1963–1990” (Paris, 1991) — texts in which he rigorously promotes the cause of minimalism.

1976

Baldwin Professor at Oberlin College

In 1976 Judd is Baldwin Professor at Oberlin College in Ohio.