GENERAL STATEMENT

The urban/industrial scene has always supplied me with subject, materials, processes and narrative. Whether the work is figurative or not - whether it is two or three dimensional, the physical undertakings during artmaking mirror the intended tone of the given piece. The idea not only determines but demands that the piece be what it must. My resources, within me and without, must change with the challenge of each new work or body of work. The limitations of my intellect, body and studio are to be constantly engaged thus assuring stimulation, growth and renewal in life as well as in art.

The subject of this work, regardless of its figurative or non-figurative qualities, is always the assemblage and manipulation of raw material. The stuff acquired has very much to do with the composition. The materials are generally reclaimed from the urban/industrial environment and in many ways record some of the history of their previous lives. I hope to merge the grace a brutality to produce an unexpected object that not only records my personal involvement with the process but also retains some of the force from what it once was. Very much of the process exhibits my personal physical potential, which is why I work alone on them. The use of assistants or heavy equipment would allow for ingenuine decision making. I am always working at the threshold of my abilities. In all, the labor that goes into each one resounds forever within the piece.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Education:

1988 BFA University of Houston, Texas
1991 MFA Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York

Relative Experience:

Adjunct Professor, New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ
3-D Design, Sculpture
Adjunct Professor, Pace University, Westchester and Manhattan Campuses
1999 - 2005
Sculpture, Drawing, Painting, 2-Design, 3-Design
Adjunct Professor, William Paterson University, Paterson, NJ
2-D Design, Sculpture

Specializations:

*Most facets of metal and woodwork, clay. Plaster, cement / concrete,
casting/mold making, Plastics.
*Welding and forging and figure sculpture.
*Landscape, still-life and figure drawing/painting.

Selected exhibitions:

2009

Landfill.org, traveling exhibit of Art from Recycled material

Pittsfield Invitational, Lichtenstein Center for the Arts,  Pittsfield, MA

Baltimore Sculpture Project, Artscape, Installation of "Explorer", Baltimore, MD

Forbes Park Reclaimed Materials Sculpture Installation, Chelsea, MA

"Lost and Found", Nashawannuk Gallery, Easthampton, MA (2 person show)

"Matt Evald Johnson: Recent Painting and Drawing",  Easthampton Cultural Alliance Gallery, Easthampton MA

2008

"Relative Environment" 26th annual BWAC Outdoor Sculpture Show, Brooklyn, NY

Installation of "Sentry", Salem Art Works (SAW), Salem NY

"Art in the Park" Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition,  Worcester Ma

Shore Institue of Contemporary Art, Sculptoure 2008, Long Branch, New Jersey

"Reclaimed", A.M.Richard Fine Art, Brooklyn, NY

"Risus", Artspace MCV/NYC, Brooklyn, NY

2007

"21st Rosen Outdoor Sculture Competition and Exhibition", Turchin Center for the Arts, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC

"Wall Scrawl", Third Rail Studio, New Rochelle, NY

"Local Treasures", Northampton Center for the Arts, Northampton, MA6

2006

Installation of "Sentry" at Burlington County College

"Garden of Earthly Delights" 24th Annual BWAC Outdoor Sculpture Show,  Fulton-Ferry State Park, Brooklyn, NY

2005

"Art at Newport", Outdoor Sculpture Walk, Jersey City, NJ

"Skyway", A Tribute to the Pulaski Skyway, Victory Hall, sponsored by the Jersey City Museum, Jersey City, NJ

2004

"1 x 1" Jersey City Museum,  Jersey City, NJ

"Matt Johnson Paintings", Tomasulo Gallery(solo exhibition), Union County College, Cranford, NJ

"22nd Annual BWAC Outdoor Sculpture Show", Fulton-Ferry State Park, Brooklyn, NY

2003

"ISC at Grounds For Sculpture International Exhibition"  Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ (Selected as panelist for the exhibit's members discussion)

"2003 Kinetic Sculpture Race"  American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore, MD

"Whats Goin' On?" 21st Annual BWAC Outdoor Sculpture Show, Fulton Ferry State Park, Brooklyn, NY

2002   Permanent installation of "Dauntless Efforts" at Harborside Financial Center, a Tribute to 9-11 ironworkers as rescuers, Commissioned by Mack-Cali Real Estate,        Jersey City, NJ

"Off the Wall" Jersey city Museum, Jersey City NJ

"Ground Zero"  Museum of New Art Detroit, Detroit, Michigan

"Recycles", Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment, Brooklyn, NY

2001

"Canalogy: A Site Specific Art Show" Gowanus Canal, Brooklyn, NY

1999

"Scorpion" Permanent installation on the municipal grounds, Clifton, NJ

1994

"Mass Exposure"  Tribeca 148 Gallery, NYC

1993

"Toys for Soreness", 55 Mercer Gallery (solo exhibition), NYC

1992

"Salon of the Mating Spiders"  Heron Test Site, Brooklyn, NY

1991

"Matthew E Johnson: Sculpture" O.K.Harris Work of Art (solo exhibition), NYC

Professional Experience:

Artist, Developed and Maintained studio facility utilizing advanced processes in welding, forging, mold making, casting and woodworking.

Wedge Works Inc. (Proprietor) Conceived and executed custom architectural, commercial and Private commissions in all areas of interior and exterior design since 1994.

REFERENCES UPON REQUEST

©2004-2009 Matthew Evald Johnson / www.evaldart.com