Always a Sculpture Created by Clement Meadmore

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“Always,” created by Clement Meadmore, is a sculpture located in front of the Carlson Center entrance at Johnson County Community College. This sculpture of approximately 20 feet is full round because it can be walked around on all sides. “Always” is composed of welded aluminum that is painted black and therefore, the method of execution used for this sculpture is addition.

Abstract geometric shapes are easily seen in “Always.” The subject of geometry is apparent from any angle. This sculpture has a unitary form of a long and large rectangular shape that bends several times in different directions and angles before springing into space. Mass controls the composition of this sculpture; it is a large sculpture with lots of volume. The mass creates a line of movement into space. There is a dynamic action of the geometric shapes extending into space. The sculpture appears unstable and off-balanced as if it is going to tip over.

Meadmore was born in 1929 and died in 2005. He was born in Melborne, Australia and became a citizen of the United States in 1976. He moved to New York upon arriving to the United States.

Meadmore’s background information related to his sculptures in many ways. According to a Meadmore website, minimalism became dominant throughout the 1960’s. Minimalism can be referred to as simplicity; it includes simple geometry with smooth surfaces. Although Meadmore created sculptures similar to this idea, he decided to go beyond minimalism. This was because he disliked the idea of minimalism remaining dominant and unwilling to change (meadmore.com). Happenstand.com states that “With their stark power and smooth, black-painted surfaces, Meadmore's sculptures combined Minimalism's devotion to pure geome...

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... shapes but could not understand the point it was trying to convey. Now that I have read and learned about Meadmore, I can distinguish the three goals that Meadmore intended for. I see the flexibility of simple geometry and how it can express dynamic movement through this sculpture. Overall, it is interesting how Meadmore’s life and ideas relate to his artistic design, “Always.”

Works Cited

“Biography.” Clement Meadmore. Unlimited Horizons, 2005. Web. 18 Oct. 2011. .

“Clement Meadmore.” Peter Rose Gallery. Ed. Taos Web Center. New York City Art Galleries. Web. 20 Oct. 2011. .

“Clement Meadmore, a Legacy.” Happenstand. Happenstand. Web. 20 Oct. 2011. .

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