Minimalism

Basics of Minimalists:

Tried to eliminate composition from their work

Were focused on creating a purely visual piece, not concerned with hidden or deeper meanings

Were primarily a reaction against abstract expressionism

Basics of Minimalists (cont.):

Believed that 2-D art had a limited number of possible different works

Objectified their pieces/ wanted people to see the piece for what it is, not what it represents

Spawned Post-Painterly Abstraction- a movement that was less energetic and more colorful than previous movements, still nonrepresentational

Jackson Pollock, Untitled

Russian Constructivism

What does that mean?

It means that they didnt want their work to look assembled out of parts/elements

They completely did away with symbols and characters in their works

They blurred the line between 2-D and 3-D with shaped canvasses

Often, works were completely 3-D

Pieces were meant to be seen as literally what they are, not as metaphors

Who Inspired Them?

Minimalism was primarily a reaction against the individualism/ individual worship of abstract expressionism

The drew on the techniques of earlier artists and movements like the Constructivist movement, Ad Reinhardt, and Barnett Newman

What are their works known for?

Works are very ordered

No thought is given as to symmetry, but works are often symmetrical due to the artists drive for order

Works are often sculptures or at least semi 3-D

Finally, works are very simplistic in nature

Frank Stella

Who was Frank Stella?

Took art courses at Princeton, where he was exposed to the avant garde art of the time.

Kind of a player, liked to bet on horse races and owned a race car.

Didnt call himself a minimalist, that was thrust on him by others

Vaserely - Kedzi

Frank Stella- Turkish Mambo

Frank Stella- Harran II

Frank Stella-Effingham

Frank Stella- Whale Watch

Frank Stella Jarama II

Frank Stella-Bamboo Trophy II

Frank Stella Chinese Pavilion

Sol LeWitt

Sol LeWitt's Life

Was drafted in the Korean War in 1959

Took a job at the Museum of Modern Art in 1960

Influenced by the work of Frank Stella

Developed interest in Russian Constructivism

Later Life

Sol LeWitt's Influences

Eadweard Muybridge

Russian Constructivism

The Museum of Modern Art

Sol LeWitt's Style

The initial idea for the work is crucial

Creation of the works-Sol LeWitt designed them, and had others build/execute the work

Sol LeWitt's Influences

Wall drawings and installations

The importance of color and shape

Buried Cube Containing an Object of Importance but Little Value

1968

Series of Photographs

Focuses on the idea of the object being buried rather than a final product

Incomplete Open Cube

1974

Painted Aluminum

122 Unique variations from 3-sided to 11-sided

Incomplete Open Cubes - Planning

Incomplete Open Cubes - Finished

Four-Sided Pyramid

1997

Concrete blocks and mortar

Perspective and angles play an important part in the piece

Monumental Sculpture

2007

Acrylic on fiberglass

Part of a series of abstract 3-dimensional sculptures called Splotches

Monumental Sculpture - Planning

Wall Drawing 11

1969

Black pencil

Many early works were basic thin pencil lines in geometric forms

Wall Drawing 51

1970

Blue snap lines

The lines connect to every architectural point. Each iteration is unique.

Wall Drawing 340

1980

Red, yellow, blue crayon on red, yellow and blue wall

Created during an era of geometric experimentation.

Wall Drawing 766

1994

Color ink wash

The dimensions of the boxes reflect the shape of the space they occupy

Wall Drawing 684A

1999

Color ink wash

Early wall drawings utilized differently angled lines of various colors

Wall Drawing 1037

2002

Acrylic paint

Part of a series of wall drawings titled Bars of color within a square

Wall Drawing 1152

2005

Acrylic paint

Subtiled Whirls and Twirls

Wall Drawing 1260

2008

Graphite

Part of a series made with a graphite scribbling technique

Donald Judd

Donald Judd As a person

Was a Philosophy Major at Columbia, so very intelligent.

Is a self proclaimed Empiricist. (Philosophical standing)

Very Anti-war. (Vietnam and gulf war) And is a firm believer in preserving the environment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0stpkzsNDU

Judds Reliefs and Works

Key Works Include: Stacks, Boxes, and Progressions.

Works are Symmetrical and made of Industrial Materials.

Wants his works to be permanently installed. He states that are is fragile.

Donald Judd

ReliefMedium: Oil on composition board mounted on wood, with steel baking pan

1961

Donald Judd

Untitled (Stack). Lacquer on galvanized iron.

1967

Donald Judd

Untitled (Progression) Lacquer on galvanized iron.

1967

Donald Judd

100 untitled(boxes) in mill aluminum

1982-1986

Dan Flavin

Dan Flavin As a person

Had a religious catholic upbringing, Served in Military

Attended Columbia University and studied painting and drawing

Worked in Museums such as the Guggenheim and Museum of Modern Art before pursuing work.

Flavins Works

It is was it is and it aint nothin else Dan Flavin

Key characteristic: Used Fluorescent Lights, called his works Propositions, liked Corners and Diagonals

All the lights used in his work were mass produced

He often dedicates his art work to other people.

What is unique about his art from other minimalists is that the fluorescent lights only stay lit for a short while, making his art perishable.

Dan Flavin

Icon V(Corans Broadway Flesh)

1961

Dan Flavin
the diagonal of May 25, 1963 (to Constantin Brancusi)

1963

Dan Flavin

monument4 for those who have been killed in ambush (to P.K. who reminded me about death)

1966

Dan Flavingreens crossing greens (to Piet Mondrian who lacked green)- 1966

Dan Flavinuntitled (to Barry, Mike, Chuck and Leonard), 1972-1975.

Sources

JUDD

http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A2948&page_number=13&template_id=1&sort_order=1

http://www.moma.org/modernteachers/large_image.php?id=205

http://www.chinati.org/visit/collection/donaldjudd.php

FLAVIN

http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2004/flavin/early/early_p3.shtm

http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2004/flavin/light/light.shtm

http://www.davidzwirner.com/artists/dan-flavin/exhibitions/solo/

http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2004/flavin/early/golddiagonal_fs.htm

http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2004/flavin/monuments/monuments.shtm

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