Ronnie Landfield Defends Signature Bands in Response to Criticism
Ronnie Landfield responded to critiques from David Cohen and Scott Bennett regarding the bold color bands in his artwork. He explained that these bands originated in late summer 1969, with "Sunday Afternoon" (108 x 168 inches), created in August 1969 upon his return from California, now housed in the Museum of South Texas. His debut solo exhibition was scheduled for October 1969 at the David Whitney Gallery, following its first group show in September. Landfield's piece "Diamond Lake" (108 x 168 inches) challenges the notion of painting's demise, as asserted by Donald Judd. His artistic approach, influenced by Song Dynasty Chinese landscape art and figures like Hans Hofmann, showcases a fusion of Eastern and Western elements, reflecting his opposition to the Vietnam War.
Key facts
- Ronnie Landfield responded to criticism from David Cohen and Scott Bennett
- Hard-edge bands first appeared in Landfield's work in late summer 1969
- "Sunday Afternoon" was painted in August 1969 after a California trip
- The painting measures 108 x 168 inches and is in Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi
- Landfield's first solo show was scheduled for October 1969 at David Whitney Gallery
- "Diamond Lake" redefined painting with violet band creating three spatial zones
- Landfield responded to Donald Judd's criticism and Clement Greenberg's theories
- Bands function as foregrounds, man-made elements, and Chinese artist chops
- Influences include Song Dynasty Chinese painting and American abstract expressionists
- Early band paintings include works in US State Department and Whitney Museum collections
Entities
Artists
- Ronnie Landfield
- David Cohen
- Scott Bennett
- Donald Judd
- Clement Greenberg
- Hans Hofmann
- Mark Rothko
- Jackson Pollock
Institutions
- Stephen Haller Gallery
- David Whitney Gallery
- Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi
- US State Department
- Whitney Museum of American Art
- artcritical
Locations
- Santa Fe
- New York City
- Manhattan
- California
- Utah
- Southeast Asia
- Vietnam
- China