100 Works in Mill Aluminum

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They are floating on a flawless plane,
humming on an unheard frequency,
shape-shifting in this smooth spread,
in this flooding sunlight, far removed
and mysterious as those Marfa lights.
I picture them as an extended metaphor
connecting back to a fundamental theme
of an engagement between the individual
and their surroundings, only appearing
identical to our initial observations.

They seem now made from the golden glows
of gleaming agate and of burnished onyx,
chalcedonic substances of parallel color,
fashioned for shifts of shadow and light
in this perfectly measured mentation.

Peering through them light plays tricks,
is that solid aluminum or is it space,
someone suggests it looks like liquid
as we take our pictures and wonder why
we are here and what it all really means.


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9 Comments
duddle146duddle146over 17 years ago
Unresolved.

In an unknown place ~ why are we here - meaning of elusive mystery unsolved.

LeBrozLeBrozover 17 years ago
~~

Words well crafted

Painting a vivid image

Laserlike

Into the reader's mind...

AnonymousAnonymousover 18 years ago
Specific objects...

...specifically described. I've been to Marfa and the boxes do indeed appear to "float on a flawless plane."

Brings the experience back to mind. Thanks.

dcpoet44dcpoet44over 18 years ago
this smooth spread....

is certainly that. i can grasp a tad of science in this but it is much more involved than that - a mental mix for sure. i'm intrigued about this donald judd at this moment. we dig from those that we are influenced by. you show that here. damn, i'm gonna have to see who this judd is. nice piece steve........don

AnonymousAnonymousover 18 years ago
Mysterious....

....much like the subject. By way of a guide and at the risk of ticking off the poet......

100 untitled works in mill aluminum, 1982-1986

At the center of the Chinati Foundation's permanent collection are 100 untitled works in mill aluminum by Donald Judd installed in two former artillery sheds. The size and scale of the buildings determined the nature of the installation, and Judd adapted the buildings specifically for this purpose. He replaced derelict garage doors with long walls of continuous squared and quartered windows which flood the spaces with light. Judd also added a vaulted roof in galvanized iron on top of the original flat roof, thus doubling the buildings' height. The semi-circular ends of the roof vaults were to be made of glass.

Each of the 100 works has the same outer dimensions (41 x 51 x 72 inches), although the interior is unique in every piece. The Lippincott Company of Connecticut fabricated the works from aluminum that was rolled especially for the series by the Reynolds Mill in McCook, Illinois. They were manufactured, shipped, and installed over a four-year period from 1982 through 1986.

I love this poem. A definite five!

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