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John Schwarz

Statement

The art of assembling found metal objects together to form sculptures are a careful blend of art and mechanics. It is sometimes tricky to construct sculptures using gathered parts that may not otherwise be found “hooked “to each other. It takes a careful eye to choose the right parts and is very similar to choosing paint from a pallet and applying color and texture to a canvas in just the right place and just the right amount.

Most of my current work is robotic and mechanical in nature, which did not happen by accident. My father was an engineer in the space program back in the late fifties through the early seventies. He exposed me to tools and materials at an early age, and gave me ideas of what could be built with them. My father showed me how mechanical things worked and explained what different gadgets were for on spacecraft and the lunar module traveling to the moon.
He has been one of the biggest influences on me, especially with my current work.

The arts have been a safe haven for me since I was very young. I love working in clay and drawing, but I also really enjoy building things with engine and bike parts. There is an overwhelming satisfaction that occurs when I take a load of non-associated parts and put them together. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t, but whether the pieces are right for each other, mechanically or visually is almost not as important as the act of assembling them. Working with clay is similar to working with found objects in that there is a construction and assembly sequence and a final process you need to follow through with. The impromptu decision-making that takes place on the workbench or in front of the welder is more instant than the satisfaction that happens when you work in clay.

What fascinated me when I was growing up back in the sixties still does today. Science fiction, space travel, dinosaurs and the unexplained, still sparks my imagination. The Twilight Zone, Star Trek and The Star Wars series were huge contributors to my “idea bank”. I gather ideas from most Sci-Fi movies and then begin to put things together with nuts and bolts in my head.

Once I get an idea of what I want to build then I research that idea. I go to the Internet, look through books and then start to draw. I draw every day. After countless renderings I inventory my parts collection and see if I can put something together that could look like my initial idea.
The final assembling of parts to create sculptures from found metal objects is an ongoing compromise of parts, color and hardware. To make the best fit and finish it sometimes takes months before any one sculpture has the right look or is finished to be displayed.

I have been gathering ideas for sculptures for this show from a number of places. There are biological mechanics happening all around us with animals and in nature. When you take a good look at a bird’s wing or the way a bird flies, you start to wonder… did God sit down and draw this up before he got together the parts?

 

Biography

Education
1982: Bachelor of Fine Art in Ceramics, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti MI 1984: Master of Fine Art in Ceramics, The University of Michigan School of Art, Ann Arbor MI
1983 - 1984: Teaching Assistant in Ceramics, The University of Michigan School of Art,
Ann Arbor, MI

Experience
1984 - Present: Ceramics Instructor, Detroit Country Day School, Birmingham MI
2001: Workshop Instructor, Raku Glazing / Firing Technique
River Gallery in conjunction with Chelsea Center for the Development of the Arts Chelsea, MI
1998: Teacher of the Year, Metro Parent Magazine, Oakland County, MI
1997: Co-coordinator of “Empty Bowls Fundraiser” MAEA Conference, Detroit, MI
1996: Guest Lecturer, MAEA Conference, Lansing MI
1995-1997: Coordinator of “Empty Bowls Fundraiser” at Detroit Country Day School

Exhibits
2007: Mechanical Natures, River Gallery, Chelsea, MI
2007: The Scarabs Club - Blooms, Bugs, Beasts, 1st place, Detroit, MI
2006: Grosse Pointe Artists Association Juried Exhibition, Best in Show, Grosse Pointe, MI
2002: Clay / Paper / Wood / Canvas, River Gallery, Chelsea, MI
2002: Faculty Exhibition, Detroit Country Day School, Birmingham, MI
2001: Reflections, Uzlac Gallery, Pontiac MI
1984: MFA Exhibit, The University of Michigan School of Art
1982: BFA Exhibit, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI

Represented by
River Gallery, Chelsea MI