I recently had the wonderful opportunity to interview professional sculptor John Raimondi, well known for his lyrical and expressive monumental sculptures featured nationally and worldwide. Having graduated with his BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art in 1973, he completed over 100 sculptures for private and public collections. He currently lives in Florida.
Our conversation started with one of the most vital components of an artist’s career; inspiration. A muse. A spark. Raimondi shared with me that he has many sources he draws from; History, politics, and mythology. Even the sculpture’s intended location or reason for commission could spark an idea. Some of his past collections have explored the fluid elegance of the human figure, the complex and improvisational beauty of jazz, as well as a series of sculptures honoring the courage and spirit of the Native American people and acknowledging their tragic history. Whatever the driving force, Raimondi excels at weaving his inspirations masterfully and emotionally into his sculptures.
Having little experience with sculpture, I wondered what went into the creation process. Raimondi offered me insight into his methods. Being a rather intuitive artist, he tends to let his art unfold naturally, trusting that it will lead him on the right path. Starting in a white-walled studio, Raimondi sketches until he has worked the previous sculpture ‘out of his system.’ Past inspirations need to make way for something new. When satisfied with a unique and fresh design, he then crafts a miniature version from black cardboard. This accurate-to-scale model will often travel around his house. Viewing it in a new context gives Raimondi the chance to see where changes need to be made. Eventually, he brings his finished work to a team of engineers, who help forge the model into corten steel, stainless steel, or bronze, whatever the intended material may be.
The Mcininch Art Gallery has recently installed one of Raimondi’s works on the SNHU campus. On loan from the Currier Museum of Art, Artorius resides outside Robert Frost Hall. Standing elegantly at 13 feet tall and made of bronze, this sculpture represents Raimondi’s interest in the mythical legend of King Arthur, as well as the origins of Excalibur. As such, he created a work beautifully portraying this unique relationship between man and sword. Excalibur descends from the heavens, meeting Arthur in his ascension to King. With its graceful shape and strong stature, Artorius exudes an air of noble confidence and respect.
While plans for a future project have yet to unfold, Raimondi is still participating in competitions, most currently in Rhode Island. I wish him all the best in this process and look forward to seeing more of his works in the future!
Rachel Willoughby
Psychology major
SNHU Alum, Class of 2021
Assistant at McIninch Art Gallery
