John Van Alstine
American, b. 1952
BIOGRAPHY
Born in upstate New York in 1952, John Van Alstine grew up in the southern Adirondack Mountains. After attending St. Lawrence University, Kent State University (BFA 1974) and Cornell University (MFA 1976), he joined the faculty at the University of Wyoming, Laramie, and later the University of Maryland, College Park, to teach drawing and sculpture.
In 1986 he left teaching and moved to the New York area to pursue studio work full-time. In 1987 he purchased a 19th century industrial complex on the banks of the Sacandaga River and returned to the Adirondacks where he now lives and works in the restored historic structure.
Van Alstine's work is held in many private and public and corporate collections in the United States and Europe. He has completed many large scale outdoor, site-specific commissions.
ARTIST STATEMENT
The union of stone and metal—recently rough-hewn New York slate and found object steel—are central in my sculpture. On its most basic level, the work is about the marriage of the natural with the human-made.
Stone is used as an assemblage element in the way a welder uses steel, rather than in the traditional manner of subtraction. In contrast to the timelessness of stone, the found-object steel is very time-specific—20th century industrial. The industrial and structural characteristics inherent in the metal are often employed in the work and used to physically connect or suspend stone elements. The strength of the metal allows for a "choreographing" or "floating" of typically earthbound stone.
The Sisyphean Circle Series is an attempt to draw parallels between the Greek mythological character and the plight of the artist. As we all know, Sisyphus was forced to roll a large stone up a steep hill, only to have it tumble back after reaching the top. A toil that lasts an eternity is an applicable metaphor for the creative process—especially for a stone sculptor, on both a physical and symbolic level. I am constantly pushing stone around the studio, striving to reach a creative "peak", and once there, start over on the next piece. The process is neverending.
Albert Camus, the French existentialist, in his essay The Myth of Sisyphus, used this myth to illustrat his notion that reaching one’s final destination is not of utmost importance. In fact, if one "reconsiders Sisyphus", as Camus suggests, the struggle or journey reveals itself as, ultimately, the most meaningful—an idea that I, and many others, believe is central to the creative process.
EDUCATION
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, M.F.A., Cornell Graduate Fellowship in Sculpture, 1976 Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, B.F.A. cum laude, Sculpture, Ceramics and Glass, 1974
Blossom Festival School, Cleveland-Kent, Ohio, 1973, Studied with Richard Stankiewicz, Richard Hunt
St. Lawrence University, Canton, New York, 1970-72| Styles |
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| Related Artists |
John Van Alstine - Pointe, Sculpture 2004
By John Van Alstine
Located in Greenwich, CT
Stone and metal,usually granite or slate and found object steel are central in my sculpture. The interaction of these materials is a major focus. On the most basic level the work is ...
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John Van Alstine - Cambre V (Slate), Sculpture 2012
By John Van Alstine
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slate, pigmented and sealed steel
Stone and metal, usually granite or slate and found object steel are central in my sculpture. The interaction of these materials is a major focus. ...
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John Van Alstine, RECLINING FIGURE, Sculpture 1973
By John Van Alstine
Located in Greenwich, CT
RECLINING FIGURE
Gray Vermont marble
18" (height) x 30" (width) x 14" (depth)
Stone and metal, usually granite or slate, and found object steel are central in my sculpture. The inte...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary John Van Alstine
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John Van Alstine - Charon's Steel Styx Passage, Sculpture 1996
By John Van Alstine
Located in Greenwich, CT
Charon's Steel Styx Passage, John Van Alstine.
Stone and metal, usually granite or slate and found object steel are central in my sculpture. The interaction of these materials is a ...
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1990s Abstract Geometric John Van Alstine
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Granite, Bronze, Steel
H 210 in W 240 in D 84 in
John Van Alstine - Round Mountain Landscape, Sculpture 2001
By John Van Alstine
Located in Greenwich, CT
Round Mountain Landscape, John Van Alstine.
Stone and metal, usually granite or slate and found object steel are central in my sculpture. The interaction of these materials is a majo...
Category
Early 2000s Abstract Geometric John Van Alstine
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Granite, Steel
H 63 in W 104 in D 30 in
John Van Alstine - Column 7-16, Sculpture 2016
By John Van Alstine
Located in Greenwich, CT
Column 7-16, John Van Alstine.
Stone and metal, usually granite or slate and found object steel are central in my sculpture. The interaction of these materials is a major focus. On ...
Category
2010s Abstract Geometric John Van Alstine
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COLUMN 7-16, Contemporary Abstract Outdoor Sculpture, Stone, Metal, Industrial
By John Van Alstine
Located in New York, NY
"COLUMN 7-16" by John Van Alstine
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The sculpture of John Van Alstine beautifully, and powerfully, balances the union of stone and metal, whi...
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21st Century and Contemporary Abstract John Van Alstine
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John Van Alstine - Hula V, Sculpture 2017
By John Van Alstine
Located in Greenwich, CT
Hula V, John Van Alstine.
Stone and metal, usually granite or slate and found object steel are central in my sculpture. The interaction of these materials is a major focus. On the mo...
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Find a wide variety of authentic John Van Alstine art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue, green and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by John Van Alstine in metal, stone, steel and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the abstract style. Not every interior allows for large John Van Alstine art, so small editions measuring 8 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Casper Brindle, Stephen Walling, and Kim Seungwoo. John Van Alstine art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $3,500 and tops out at $95,000, while the average work can sell for $17,750.