John Medwedeff, Sculpture, Public Art, Corporate Art
STATEMENT
 
My work, whether shaped exclusively with a hammer or the cutting and forming of plates, is informed by the visual language of blacksmithing. I am inspired by the botanical, aquatic and atmospheric phenomena of my familiar landscapes. At the forge, I have developed a vocabulary of line and form with which I explore, through metal, this natural world in relation to the body and to architecture. The large scale sculptures, while not necessarily forged, are an extrapolation of this vocabulary driven by my blacksmith’s desire to reshape the metal and make the surfaces my own. I make no distinctions between what is thought to be functional and sculptural objects, but rather concentrate on designing pieces that fulfill my intention for the object within the framework of my aesthetic choices.

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Here is an exerpt from Art & Antiques magazine, which included John in their 2006 "100 Top Collectors' and What They Collect" issue:

Southern Illinois' John Medwedeff makes both sculpture and furnishings and believes decorative and fine arts inform each other. "When you work at the forge you're manipulating material and changing dimensions," Medwedeff says. "Working with hot iron tends to produce graceful, organic lines. What's inherent in blacksmithing is easily extrapolated into sculpture."

Bloom installation

Bloom, 12' x 4' x 2.5', forged and fabricated bronze, 2006
John Medwedeff
Sculpture, Metalsmithing, Furnishings, Collaborative Design of Public Spaces
695 Future Lane Murphysboro, IL 62966
voice  618 687 4304     fax  618 687 5220
john@johnmedwedeff.com