John Knapp – New Hampshire, USA

ARTIST STATEMENT:
Set in an area approximately 40’ x 30’ on the side of a mountain at the Andres Institute in Brookline, NH. These 48 lichen covered granite glacial erratic boulders and additional stones. There are a total of 55 pieces, which were selected from the surrounding area and arranged at this location. The immediate reference is to a theater or staging area with the diamond shaped lines of boulders focal point and three parallel rows of boulders the viewing area. The intention is that as the area recovers the indigenous flora mostly low mountain scrub and grass, there will be a sense of encountering an ancient Neolithic site where one might experience a psychological shift or insight. Psychologically and symbolically the lozenge or diamond shape <> represents the gateway to the
universe as the female form and the three horizontal lines or bars in Chinese symbolism and the I Ching represent heaven.

 

ARTIST BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION:

Recent themes in painting and sculpture use archetypal form and visual imagery as yantra. Two-dimensional work includes paintings on luan often incorporating copper or steel, photography, works on paper and collage. Sculpture is made of steel and wood, cast cement or natural stone, colored and juxtaposed with steel or wood.

Outdoor installations include “Diamond Site”, completed at the International Stone Symposium, Andres Institute, Brookline, NH, in 1999. Here, fifty-five boulders were installed on the side of a mountain in an area 40’ x 30’. At that time the Symposium included sculptors from the Ukraine, England, the Czech Republic, Latvia and Lithuania.More recently, “Lozenge Plane” defined an area 10,000 square feet in Maudsley State Park, Amesbury, MA in 2001.

In addition, John curated Maine Abstract Art 1995 for the Danforth Gallery, Portland, Maine, and for eight years Contemporary Outdoor Sculpture at The Moses-Kent House Museum, Exeter, NH. He has taught at Boston College and New England College.

John Knapp’s background is varied and unique. He lived and studied in Montpellier, France in the mid-1960’s and traveled to Barcelona, Geneva, Rome, Florence, Pisa, Corfu, Athens, Mykonos and Delos. He earned his degree in psychology, with additional studies in French, the modern theater, and literature at the University of Baltimore. In addition, he studied art at the Maryland Institute, College of Art.

Asian, Himalayan, and Indian art and thought are important references for John’s work. He traveled to Japan; Tokyo, Kyoto, Shigaraki, Imbe and Takayama to research traditional Japanese aesthetics and architecture. He has studied oriental art in storage at the Freer Gallery of Oriental Art, Smithsonian Institute, in Washington, and at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

In recent years, John has traveled to Morocco, Fez, Marrakech, Ouarzate, the Canary Islands, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Barbados. Additionally, he has traveled to Mexico four years and lived in Merida, Yucatan. He has visited Lisbon twice and recently wintered in Antibes and Golfe Juan on the French Riviera.