Donald Judd, an artist known for his large, permanent installations, bought 101 Spring Street to serve as his home and studio in 1968. He was a proponent of the idea of permanent installations and disliked that most museums and galleries rotated exhibits. To Judd, a piece of art could change as the environment, light, or political climate fluctuated. He wanted viewers to experience his art over an extended period of time to gain a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the pieces.

With such a contemplative doctrine, it may not come as a surprise that Judd studied both philosophy and art history while at Columbia University. He supported himself writing criticisms for art magazines before becoming one of the first artists to be supported by the Dia Foundation.

Judd bought this entire building for just $68,000 (the equivalent of $464,000 today) and lived here with his family, raising two children and renovating the interior over the years. When he died in 1994, the building became the headquarters of the Judd Foundation. It is set up as a museum in Judd’s taste: showing around 200 pieces of art and 1,800 household objects on permanent display. Very little has changed, and, in fact, It is the only cast iron building in Soho that remains both intact and single-use. It is open to the public through tours that can be booked via the Judd Foundation website.

Timeline

1968	Judd moves into 101 Spring
2008	Restoration of 101 Spring begins
2013	101 Spring Street reopened

Reference Links

article	The Guggenheim: About the Artist
link	Judd Foundation
internal	Donald Judd
internal	The Restoration
internal	gDoc

Talking Points

Point this out at the corner of Prince and Wooster. Corner of 101 Spring Street visible from there.

• 101 Spring Street bought in 1968 for $70k (today: $500k)
• residence and studio of Donald Judd
• one of the first artists supported by Dia foundation
• intersted in the effect and modificaiton of space
• did not agree with the museum and gallery method of changing exhibitions, he wanted to experience a piece over an extended time to have a deeper  understanding of it
• even though the piece might not change and there was always change: change of light, change of meaning over time
• Donald Judd
• think about: space as a medium, that understanding a piece can be a long if not infinite process and that your understanding of it can change over time, even if the piece and the space don’t change

4th Floor (Parlor): Painting by Frank Stella was exchanged with Philipp Johnson for Sculpture at Glass House

Dia Foundation

• http://www.diaart.org
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dia_Art_Foundation

Location