Project Overview
Whirl | Vance Park
Commissioned by UrbanArt Commission and the Greater Memphis Arts Council, Whirl is a forged and fabricated steel and aluminum sculpture. The sculpture also functions as a bench and shade shelter and is located in Vance Park overlooking the Mississippi River.
About the Artist
John Medwedeff
John Medwedeff has been an independent studio artist since 1988. His sculpture, architectural metalwork, and design are represented in private, corporate, and public collections throughout the United States.
“John Medwedeff’s public art is monumental and meticulous. His work blurs the boundary between the world of traditional metalworker and modern sculptor.”
His work, whether shaped exclusively with a hammer or the cutting and forming of plates, is informed by the traditions and visual language of blacksmithing.
The process of heating metal until it is malleable enough to be reshaped by the smith goes back more than a thousand years. Medwedeff notes that his practice is "not restrained by adhesion to specific historical references and I frequently employ modern technologies and forms. I am inspired by the waterways, plant life, and weather of my familiar landscapes. I make no distinctions between what is thought to be functional and sculptural objects, but rather concentrate on designing pieces that fulfill my intention for the object within the framework of my aesthetic choices."
