Minimalist Geometric Forms: John Stallings
By Justin Bahorik
Sculptor John Stallings works from beliefs situated at the core of his art. His sculptures contain the very essence of Minimalism through geometric forms. Using mostly steel and aluminum he creates stabiles that accentuate their environment through their mixture of masculine and feminine lines. John is of the belief that "good art should seem neither to begin nor end". With this he infuses in sculpture the idea of continuous motion and the ability to constantly be interacting with its environment. John also believes in "Laws that seem to overview all art." And certain rules in nature that also apply to art. His work seems to be going neither up nor down. Large black steel stabiles>John’s methods in creating sculpture are time-consuming and tedious, and his staff, which consists mostly of local recruits who are trained and overseen by the artist, work regularly for at least a month>John Stallings developed the bulk of his beliefs and theories of art while attending a small school in western Pennsylvania in the seventies. Initially he was interested in painting and print-making, but his main influence changed all that. While he was seen as somewhat of a virtuoso in the school, Frank Gilliam, an art professor specializing in sculpture, directed his interest away from the canvas and towards sculpture. John says that Frank, along with other professors, induced him with his work ethic and design methods.>After leaving school, John moved to Pittsburgh where he worked in renovation of period houses. He would use his design theory to mix the old world materials and style of the period work with modernized forms for a combination of new and old. He spent many of the next years renovating and sculpting in mostly clay and plaster, until a near tragic accident altered his views>Art, and sculpture in particular, is not merely visual, it is tactile as well. John Stallings feels this is an important part of his sculpture in order for the viewer to be able to come to a subconscious realization of the methods and inspiration that went into a certain piece of his sculpture. With this tactile sense the visual end is>Through his method and ideas for the future of his sculpture, John Stallings is attempting to revolutionize the scene. In the near future he would like to see sculpture everywhere. He wants people to be driving down interstates and see sculptures just as often as they see billboards, while remaining tastefully complementary to their environment in order to energize the scenery . He also has thoughts of a method to make what he calls "Happening Art" or "Art you can play with." These pieces would include magnets and a finish that comes from a common woodworking technique. He believes that the mirrored finish you get from the long hours of sanding and waxing adds an innovative dimension and look to the forms. This mirrored finish, seen in a few of his works, also helps to accentuate the environment around the sculpture by reflecting and distorting its surroundings.