Furniture is important to me.I've always reworked the space I lived in and have often made furniture for it.Perhaps the first things I made- about some 15 years ago- that were really furniture were some metal chairs and a table. Now I'm making a limited edition of chairs, a desk and a table.I started making them in Texas in 1978.Since there is no decent furniture for sale in the small town where I live,it is necessary to make it.So far I haven't made furniture for anyone else,only for myself.The idea of making furniture to sell is very recent.In Texas the furniture is based on the width of the wood.We use pine, and the construction, by Celedonio Mediano, is simple and straightforward.In New York we use birch or maple,and the construction is extremely sophisticated.The main thing about the chairs is the vertical planks that make up the backs.The front and the sides are just different ideas.I spent a lot of time trying to make the proportions even,one to two,which I like,or two to three,and so forth.Much of the harmony in an environment is in its proportions.It's an old idea in architecture,but I don't think people now are very concerned about it.When I fix up or make buildings,their proportions are very important to me.The buildings are primarily for the installation of art.I have a lot of my own work,and I want it installed properly.Then I have quite a bit of other peoples work,and it takes up a lot of space.I am very serious about this,and that is the main reason why I keep getting more space.I've spent quite a bit of time on the furniture,so I don't consider it frivolous.But I am an artist,and therefore the art is important.I make a big distinction between the art and the furniture and architecture.I'm careful about taking ideas from art and placing them in another context.
Donald Judd1983