- Three notable essayists explore the sculptor's abstract landscapes
that reveal the complex synergy between natural forces and man-made
elements- The artist weaves into his works elements of mythology,
celestial navigation, implements, human figures, movement, urban forms,
and found objects, while using motion, balance, and inertia to
incorporate the eternal forces of gravity, tension, and erosionFor
nearly forty years, John Van Alstine has created abstract sculptures
forged from steel and stone. In John Van Alstine: Sculpture, 1971-2018,
three notable essayists explore the sculptor's abstract landscapes that
reveal the complex synergy between natural forces and man-made elements;
by grappling with the challenges of balancing stone and steel, Van
Alstine's indoor, outdoor, and site-specific sculptures are measured and
calculated, yet simultaneously poetic; their swooping angular lines
create expansive spaces beyond the limits of their steel and stone
frames to unveil our collective history and imagination, illuminating a
deft interplay of natural energies and the human experience. The artist
weaves into his works elements of mythology, celestial navigation,
implements, human figures, movement, urban forms, and found objects,
while using motion, balance, and inertia to incorporate the eternal
forces of gravity, tension, and erosion. In an essay on his drawings,
Van Alstine details the critical role they play in the initiation and
planning of his projects, offering the reader a firsthand perspective on
the artist's creative process. Van Alstine's works have been featured in
numerous solo and group exhibitions and are found in the permanent
collections of the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Hirshhorn Museum and
Sculpture Garden, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American Art, and
the Phillips Collection, to name but a few. His works are also found in
numerous public and private collections. The Artist Book Foundation is
gratified to announce the publication of this lavishly illustrated
monograph on an esteemed and prolific contemporary artist.
