John Bell is an artist who reclaims salvaged metal to create sculptures. His most current work includes pieces created with steel from demolished buildings and industrial scrap materials. By allowing the metal to react to the environment as well as to chemical applications, John creates surface textures of deterioration which add mood and meaning to the sculptural shapes. He believes that steel is a beautiful material that can be twisted, bent and hammered into new forms. Although steel does not give up easily, when one becomes familiar with ways to defeat its resistance, the results are gratifying. John’s work was shown in the Creative Mischief Pop-up Art Exhibition at the National Academy Museum and School in Manhattan as well as in the class exhibition there. His sculpture has been selected three times for juried art exhibits at the Southampton Cultural Center, most recently at the September 2014 show. During the summer of 2014 several of his pieces were exhibited on the grounds of the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association in Huntington, NY. He has also had two month long showings of his work at the West Islip Public Library.
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