Revised 5/10/05

However - by Clement Meadmore, 1929-2005

Aluminum - 1998, New York, New York

However - by Clement MeadmoreClement Meadmore's repeated and characteristic use of geometric but fluid shapes reflects his training as an aeronautical engineer. Like many of Meadmore's mature sculptures, However consists of two basic geometric forms, square and a quarter circle, extended into space. The black, matte finish of the surfaces unifies the overall effect. However resolves the tensions between closed form and its extension into space, and achieves stability and balance while implying motion. Meadmore combined the geometric forms of contemporary Minimalist art with the expressive potential of artistic gesture derived from earlier Abstract Expressionism.

In the kitchen of his apartment, Meadmore builds small maquettes which are no more than 30 cm long. If he sees that the maquettes have potential to be translated on a monumental scale, he has the works manufactured as large sculptures by a local fabrication plant. In his spare time, Meadmore likes to play the drums and to make jazz music with his friends. Meadmore states: "My intention is to create geometric sculpture with the intensity of the best-modeled sculpture. I have three goals: to explore geometry's expressive potential, make the sculpture comprehensible from any viewpoint and to avoid the feeling of a front and back. I believe we have a natural sense of 3-dimensional form that is one of our most basic senses, having its own range of feeling as unique as our range of musical emotions. It is possible to evoke these feelings through geometric form."

 

Northwestern Michigan College