John Early https://john-early.com John Early Tue, 07 Oct 2025 10:07:17 +0000 https://john-early.com en Bio https://john-early.com/Bio Fri, 18 Mar 2022 17:59:26 +0000 John Early https://john-early.com/Bio <img width="830" height="623" width_o="830" height_o="623" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/02f8edf782fa02af4e8952d91ad4864e86a7948a7c63709b2ff8ce3c6eb43ea1/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_192c.jpg" data-mid="136829814" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/830/i/02f8edf782fa02af4e8952d91ad4864e86a7948a7c63709b2ff8ce3c6eb43ea1/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_192c.jpg" /> John Early b. 1978, Richmond, VA Lives and works in St. Louis, MO&nbsp; John Early is a multidisciplinary visual artist whose site-based work explores the textures, layers, and histories of place. His recent work&nbsp; addresses power structures of inequity, often in connection with sports and recreation. Over the past five years, his work has focused on spatial injustice in the recreational landscape of St. Louis’s public parks. Since 2021, Early has collaborated with sports studies scholar Noah Cohan on Whereas Hoops, a project combining public scholarship, spatial interventions, and activism to address the absence of basketball courts in St. Louis’s Forest Park. In April 2022, Early’s essay about a basketball court in North St. Louis was included in the edited volume, The Material World of Modern Segregation: St. Louis in the Long Era of Ferguson.&nbsp; In addition to participating in public projects based in Chicago, St. Louis, and Florence, Italy, Early has exhibited widely across the Midwest and nationally. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Sam Fox School of Design &amp; Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis and is a Faculty Affiliate at the University’s Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity &amp; Equity. Whereas Hoops, Phase 1 https://john-early.com/Whereas-Hoops-Phase-1 Thu, 17 Mar 2022 18:09:05 +0000 John Early https://john-early.com/Whereas-Hoops-Phase-1 <img width="2753" height="2753" width_o="2753" height_o="2753" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/800c5e1e4f0f07513fd8fe127fd3c81327ecf74b288158837eb84624175102fb/IMG_1365.JPG" data-mid="239100064" border="0" data-rotation="-10" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/800c5e1e4f0f07513fd8fe127fd3c81327ecf74b288158837eb84624175102fb/IMG_1365.JPG" /> <img width="3024" height="3024" width_o="3024" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8ec9bd9e3834da0df275a58d773fd95181d4a3f9afcbed3316b10b1df7431015/IMG_9124.jpeg" data-mid="136825731" border="0" data-rotation="2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8ec9bd9e3834da0df275a58d773fd95181d4a3f9afcbed3316b10b1df7431015/IMG_9124.jpeg" /> <img width="1410" height="1410" width_o="1410" height_o="1410" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d0f378705dba7b4721fed559ba5f0e0ee9d8731b35ca68c1ede31a595d3e77a3/8__Screen-Shot-2021-04-29-at-2.36.32-PM.png" data-mid="136824052" border="0" data-rotation="-2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d0f378705dba7b4721fed559ba5f0e0ee9d8731b35ca68c1ede31a595d3e77a3/8__Screen-Shot-2021-04-29-at-2.36.32-PM.png" /> <img width="3105" height="2122" width_o="3105" height_o="2122" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/da7f9f7ec34e4371da867cc843a2fe0722647eb562268931165b78b986dfd47c/Grand-Basin-finger-roll.png" data-mid="136856372" border="0" data-rotation="7.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/da7f9f7ec34e4371da867cc843a2fe0722647eb562268931165b78b986dfd47c/Grand-Basin-finger-roll.png" /> <img width="1200" height="800" width_o="1200" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f27c25e49dd446fd8857fc842ada13defd0c82c104c264caffeafd35500be19a/IMG_9939_sm.jpg" data-mid="196850878" border="0" data-rotation="-15" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f27c25e49dd446fd8857fc842ada13defd0c82c104c264caffeafd35500be19a/IMG_9939_sm.jpg" /> <img width="1890" height="1890" width_o="1890" height_o="1890" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b78b091629513f0644db9e5b1209897e417037f6ff097f6a4a054587dcf137bb/8__Red-path-hoop.png" data-mid="136825725" border="0" data-rotation="-2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b78b091629513f0644db9e5b1209897e417037f6ff097f6a4a054587dcf137bb/8__Red-path-hoop.png" /> <img width="1734" height="2096" width_o="1734" height_o="2096" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2e9d4fa24b7e8a28084aa312708915d95b7896a26951b66c1f254d4e4cc66a06/IMG_0858.jpeg" data-mid="239100062" border="0" data-rotation="-5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2e9d4fa24b7e8a28084aa312708915d95b7896a26951b66c1f254d4e4cc66a06/IMG_0858.jpeg" /> <img width="900" height="675" width_o="900" height_o="675" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/46ed190f563b2a8b5234459b934351125c11cf4a79f0008b099a9f5e03fb21c0/IMG_2742_sm.jpg" data-mid="196850915" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/900/i/46ed190f563b2a8b5234459b934351125c11cf4a79f0008b099a9f5e03fb21c0/IMG_2742_sm.jpg" /> <img width="3544" height="3544" width_o="3544" height_o="3544" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ac305205c3a14aa6ef4ea4bee60b65766596ece8332478c267a07f7b1199d014/Forest-Park-Wayfinding-Sign_no-basketball_v2_crop.png" data-mid="136824046" border="0" data-rotation="12.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ac305205c3a14aa6ef4ea4bee60b65766596ece8332478c267a07f7b1199d014/Forest-Park-Wayfinding-Sign_no-basketball_v2_crop.png" /> <img width="2783" height="2783" width_o="2783" height_o="2783" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/72108d816a3b83614277b35f7d829eca21a0dccf7c043876c57161fe756475eb/3.4__Forest-Park-for-Whom.png" data-mid="239100163" border="0" data-rotation="-7.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/72108d816a3b83614277b35f7d829eca21a0dccf7c043876c57161fe756475eb/3.4__Forest-Park-for-Whom.png" /> <img width="450" height="600" width_o="450" height_o="600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6fac2e89d4154f0727fce73a0a0359583213bed0720f66c6c7e510a653a27d0b/Art-Hill_07-15-2202_sm.jpg" data-mid="196850914" border="0" data-rotation="2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/450/i/6fac2e89d4154f0727fce73a0a0359583213bed0720f66c6c7e510a653a27d0b/Art-Hill_07-15-2202_sm.jpg" /> <img width="1674" height="1588" width_o="1674" height_o="1588" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6e26e46851e9f473f0b2633a3508e16c5da8642338fab8e06c9c3d9528dc809c/8__KSDK-5192017.png" data-mid="136824041" border="0" data-rotation="-5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6e26e46851e9f473f0b2633a3508e16c5da8642338fab8e06c9c3d9528dc809c/8__KSDK-5192017.png" /> <img width="1200" height="800" width_o="1200" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0b6c8c29082a08708aa500ae912f4689e3ce2bf85b6d156d48207202eccf78da/IMG_0096_sm.jpg" data-mid="196850875" border="0" data-rotation="-2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0b6c8c29082a08708aa500ae912f4689e3ce2bf85b6d156d48207202eccf78da/IMG_0096_sm.jpg" /> <img width="1200" height="800" width_o="1200" height_o="800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3cb39a2c26c92a8223091d34f59f69d0e4c9f568040c958c66f93a4ecbaaa594/IMG_9922_sm.jpg" data-mid="196850877" border="0" data-rotation="15" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3cb39a2c26c92a8223091d34f59f69d0e4c9f568040c958c66f93a4ecbaaa594/IMG_9922_sm.jpg" /> <img width="1282" height="960" width_o="1282" height_o="960" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f1849198ff94f0254eb86db5e39b2179fcaf667da69344a1a8398e0f5e137484/485922096_664127449465962_1126399168256768452_n.jpg" data-mid="239132017" border="0" data-rotation="2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f1849198ff94f0254eb86db5e39b2179fcaf667da69344a1a8398e0f5e137484/485922096_664127449465962_1126399168256768452_n.jpg" /> Whereas Hoops, Phase 1Collaboration with Noah Cohan 2021-2024 Whereas Hoops is an interdisciplinary, community-based&nbsp; work combining research, writing, creative practice, and activism to&nbsp; address the anti-Black racism underlying the longtime absence of basketball courts in Forest Park, the largest urban park in St. Louis, Missouri.&nbsp; Over the course of three years, we posted archival research on Instagram, connected with parks administrators and elected representatives, launched a podcast, conducted media interviews, and spoke with park visitors about the absence of basketball courts in the park. The project also featured advocacy in the form of two custom-built, mobile basketball hoops that were brought to the park reguarly between 2021-2022, as well as an artist’s book distributed to local parks officials and civic leaders.&nbsp; The book tells the story of basketball’s rich history in St. Louis, illustrates how the dynamics of race, class, and gender led to basketball’s absence from Forest Park, and calls for the construction of basketball courts in the park. Due in part to these efforts, Forest Park opened the Nicholas J. Booker Basketball Courts--the first basketball courts in the park’s nearly 150-year history--on July 9th, 2024. (Aerial view of the basketball courts&nbsp;© STL From Above) Whereas Hoops, Phase 2 https://john-early.com/Whereas-Hoops-Phase-2 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 10:07:17 +0000 John Early https://john-early.com/Whereas-Hoops-Phase-2 <img width="3000" height="2002" width_o="3000" height_o="2002" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/55f0fdb7fe2d92b7a761a980498e8df4a2187c117ee4a8fb382de9e1de930050/Early_John_2023Documentation_1.jpg" data-mid="239132141" border="0" data-rotation="-7.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/55f0fdb7fe2d92b7a761a980498e8df4a2187c117ee4a8fb382de9e1de930050/Early_John_2023Documentation_1.jpg" /> <img width="3000" height="2000" width_o="3000" height_o="2000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/58556b2a7e68f8f42dfac2912f2407b59e2d05a3a545e7612844ce6e1f860e41/Early_John_2023Documentation_2_web.jpg" data-mid="239132142" border="0" data-rotation="-5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/58556b2a7e68f8f42dfac2912f2407b59e2d05a3a545e7612844ce6e1f860e41/Early_John_2023Documentation_2_web.jpg" /> <img width="3000" height="2002" width_o="3000" height_o="2002" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/720321bb23a77f6103c9020c0320e9747a5c0d022f24441ff227e2cf044c6bc9/Early_John_2023Documentation_3_web.jpg" data-mid="239132143" border="0" data-rotation="2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/720321bb23a77f6103c9020c0320e9747a5c0d022f24441ff227e2cf044c6bc9/Early_John_2023Documentation_3_web.jpg" /> <img width="722" height="997" width_o="722" height_o="997" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5f03209a9b37924a64e53d08fd5b2d97d1fea98556f59f7020aece16865ff4de/Screenshot-2025-10-15-at-10.32.39-AM.png" data-mid="239412095" border="0" data-rotation="5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/722/i/5f03209a9b37924a64e53d08fd5b2d97d1fea98556f59f7020aece16865ff4de/Screenshot-2025-10-15-at-10.32.39-AM.png" /> Whereas Hoops, Phase 2Collaboration with Noah Cohan 2024 - ongoing Building on the success of Phase 1 of Whereas Hoops, the second phase of the project focuses on the City of St. Louis’s 35 other public parks that have outdoor basketball facilities.&nbsp; Many of these parks are in historically Black neighborhoods north of St. Louis’s red line, none of which benefit from the financial support lavished on Forest Park.&nbsp; Connecting with city leaders and community stakeholders, Phase 2 aims to help beautify, repair, and restore these spaces to match the vibrancy of the game and the people of all races, genders, and abilities who play it.&nbsp; A pilot project was completed at Norman Seay Park in 2024, pictured here.&nbsp; Phase 2 includes a map listing the locations and current playing conditions of all the outdoor basketball courts in St. Louis City public parks. &nbsp; A More Perfect Union https://john-early.com/A-More-Perfect-Union Tue, 14 Nov 2023 16:50:12 +0000 John Early https://john-early.com/A-More-Perfect-Union <img width="1200" height="901" width_o="1200" height_o="901" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/133473218b6ab2e19909019d6346797ffaffcc362835ddf6a69ec992c0cd7933/P1180525_sm.jpg" data-mid="196843767" border="0" data-rotation="-10" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/133473218b6ab2e19909019d6346797ffaffcc362835ddf6a69ec992c0cd7933/P1180525_sm.jpg" /> <img width="1200" height="876" width_o="1200" height_o="876" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f75811887cf0bb2d12f564b3c1fb9fa560912b2debf4ce2505f30725848edc92/P1180493_sm.jpg" data-mid="196843763" border="0" data-rotation="7.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f75811887cf0bb2d12f564b3c1fb9fa560912b2debf4ce2505f30725848edc92/P1180493_sm.jpg" /> <img width="3282" height="4275" width_o="3282" height_o="4275" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2ea99edbd4f55a1c499f9e6f1ac36db7e583728683a488c030da2537000b5bbf/P1180481.jpeg" data-mid="196847839" border="0" data-rotation="-5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2ea99edbd4f55a1c499f9e6f1ac36db7e583728683a488c030da2537000b5bbf/P1180481.jpeg" /> <img width="4592" height="3448" width_o="4592" height_o="3448" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3cc6fe0b3ae0026d76b09dfaa26e96e7c4d933faa92da6890c255886b5f28a40/P1180613.jpeg" data-mid="196847726" border="0" data-rotation="-2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3cc6fe0b3ae0026d76b09dfaa26e96e7c4d933faa92da6890c255886b5f28a40/P1180613.jpeg" /> <img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/37a1de1c236df3a21f69cbc9ff9bb060f511a3186e214760f8b7d4913027420a/IMG_0078ok.jpg" data-mid="196848735" border="0" data-rotation="2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/37a1de1c236df3a21f69cbc9ff9bb060f511a3186e214760f8b7d4913027420a/IMG_0078ok.jpg" /> A More Perfect Union2022-2023Compressed earth, wood, cinderblocks, and flagpole 36” x 60” x 2” (flag only) Installation view at STNDRD, Granite City, IL 2022-2023 A More Perfect Union is a flag for a nation in tumult. Made of compressed dirt gathered from the exhibition site, it flies in a vulnerable state of slow but inevitable change. Its fifty circular holes—representing the stars of the American flag—allow light to shine through an otherwise impenetrable plane. The flag’s shape echoes another fixture of the Midwestern landscape: the roadside billboard. This static, airborne rectangle, however, neither announces nor proclaims anything. It flies for a country whose tainted glory has faded and whose full promise is yet to come. On the Surface of Things https://john-early.com/On-the-Surface-of-Things Fri, 18 Mar 2022 16:50:32 +0000 John Early https://john-early.com/On-the-Surface-of-Things <img width="1200" height="1800" width_o="1200" height_o="1800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cb43596126b1343eb6c26860532b83f8711456b885c007db17828933f71ed0c6/IMG_1668_4x6x300.jpg" data-mid="136822716" border="0" data-rotation="-2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/cb43596126b1343eb6c26860532b83f8711456b885c007db17828933f71ed0c6/IMG_1668_4x6x300.jpg" /> <img width="490" height="653" width_o="490" height_o="653" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d86b5b7c7f8e16604deaf0a720e6d9335eeacf09554c5329b6b8aa2ffeab47f7/Zip-tie_small.gif" data-mid="136860544" border="0" data-rotation="-2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/490/i/d86b5b7c7f8e16604deaf0a720e6d9335eeacf09554c5329b6b8aa2ffeab47f7/Zip-tie_small.gif" /> <img width="2138" height="1648" width_o="2138" height_o="1648" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a2f7934baa8a6b6f2d9af65c3484995d221dde1f5bf2bcf86512f1eaf45ecc62/Screen-Shot-2017-09-19-at-4.36.55-PM.png" data-mid="136858108" border="0" data-rotation="2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a2f7934baa8a6b6f2d9af65c3484995d221dde1f5bf2bcf86512f1eaf45ecc62/Screen-Shot-2017-09-19-at-4.36.55-PM.png" /> <img width="4530" height="3020" width_o="4530" height_o="3020" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0501e26e4b0b82d9565b60d6988f159b9014ea945ee0b71422cbcc6fa386dd38/IMG_0680_edit.jpg" data-mid="136822714" border="0" data-rotation="-2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0501e26e4b0b82d9565b60d6988f159b9014ea945ee0b71422cbcc6fa386dd38/IMG_0680_edit.jpg" /> <img width="432" height="576" width_o="432" height_o="576" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bf8d3104880d1200b72f0b93f447bbd2c8ab1557ccbd13776c8ee0ebcfdc4f11/Pencil_small.gif" data-mid="136860767" border="0" data-rotation="2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/432/i/bf8d3104880d1200b72f0b93f447bbd2c8ab1557ccbd13776c8ee0ebcfdc4f11/Pencil_small.gif" /> <img width="3998" height="2666" width_o="3998" height_o="2666" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/894552139ac68dab271f8b49b8a9e235e869bf90942964c44896bcc2e315aa62/IMG_0614_edit.jpg" data-mid="136822715" border="0" data-rotation="5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/894552139ac68dab271f8b49b8a9e235e869bf90942964c44896bcc2e315aa62/IMG_0614_edit.jpg" /> <img width="4336" height="2891" width_o="4336" height_o="2891" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/27cac8c24c680860112136a16610640faca14c7c12cf703b90578827f66592f5/IMG_0617_edit.jpg" data-mid="136822717" border="0" data-rotation="-10" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/27cac8c24c680860112136a16610640faca14c7c12cf703b90578827f66592f5/IMG_0617_edit.jpg" /> <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4fddaf3051e295207194c0a6ef01364afaa7a936bf4e78571501870b3d48c9c1/IMG_6711_edit.jpg" data-mid="136822720" border="0" data-rotation="2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4fddaf3051e295207194c0a6ef01364afaa7a936bf4e78571501870b3d48c9c1/IMG_6711_edit.jpg" /> <img width="2886" height="1924" width_o="2886" height_o="1924" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/34329b07b618a550077f0ea49c298006da8ab455ede7c355b657d27dc7157012/IMG_0586_edit.jpg" data-mid="136822719" border="0" data-rotation="-5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/34329b07b618a550077f0ea49c298006da8ab455ede7c355b657d27dc7157012/IMG_0586_edit.jpg" /> On the Surface of Things On the Surface of Things is a public project addressing the human toll of urban renewal. For the project, physical remnants of human presence were gathered from the basketball court in the St. Louis Place neighborhood over the course of two years. The community has endured neglect for decades, with 99 acres eventually being blighted—and thus forcibly removing residents, most of whom were African American—in the name of urban renewal. As a poetic and defiant counteraction to the city’s long history of ignoring and erasing communities such as St. Louis Place, the found objects were gilded and thrown over the fence of the construction site across the street where the new $1.7 billion National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency western headquarters is being built. This site-specific project is featured in an essay I wrote for the edited volume The Material World of Modern Segregation: St. Louis in the Long Era of Ferguson. The Sun Will Get Up Soon https://john-early.com/The-Sun-Will-Get-Up-Soon Fri, 18 Mar 2022 15:52:58 +0000 John Early https://john-early.com/The-Sun-Will-Get-Up-Soon <img width="1200" height="1800" width_o="1200" height_o="1800" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2782858a15be78b3ced14757808c55c4c53205329bc291e153e8259275d48e94/Early--John--2021.04--Image-2---The-Sun-Will-Get-Up-Soon.jpg" data-mid="136816688" border="0" data-rotation="5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2782858a15be78b3ced14757808c55c4c53205329bc291e153e8259275d48e94/Early--John--2021.04--Image-2---The-Sun-Will-Get-Up-Soon.jpg" /> <img width="3024" height="3024" width_o="3024" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3ec5ada0a36fea3a11721dc256f8b09fd70006ea666ac68c294c5912a7158778/IMG_3640.jpeg" data-mid="136816779" border="0" data-rotation="2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3ec5ada0a36fea3a11721dc256f8b09fd70006ea666ac68c294c5912a7158778/IMG_3640.jpeg" /> <img width="1200" height="1600" width_o="1200" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4f682ffc7739c183316e01b792211eff5a0ce5b6f471bd6d0d50a3f675c7c921/Early--John--2021.04--Image-1---The-Sun-Will-Get-Up-Soon-detail.jpg" data-mid="136816689" border="0" data-rotation="-12.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4f682ffc7739c183316e01b792211eff5a0ce5b6f471bd6d0d50a3f675c7c921/Early--John--2021.04--Image-1---The-Sun-Will-Get-Up-Soon-detail.jpg" /> <img width="3712" height="2657" width_o="3712" height_o="2657" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/68dc604c9f33341d5d9a68011c2ca1e531a26ad42d05ced521f4b53d7e5a0c52/IMG_3508_edit.jpg" data-mid="136816784" border="0" data-rotation="2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/68dc604c9f33341d5d9a68011c2ca1e531a26ad42d05ced521f4b53d7e5a0c52/IMG_3508_edit.jpg" /> <img width="2048" height="2048" width_o="2048" height_o="2048" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9a9b6f651c0931e4ba02fee7fc84026a6f5634feaf6ef801d0838a44eb3e9c27/0DBD4882-20A1-4D12-8791-A8C71FF2863E.jpeg" data-mid="136816777" border="0" data-rotation="-2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9a9b6f651c0931e4ba02fee7fc84026a6f5634feaf6ef801d0838a44eb3e9c27/0DBD4882-20A1-4D12-8791-A8C71FF2863E.jpeg" /> The Sun Will Get Up Soon Mirror, wood, and rebar 12" x 12" x 30" 2020-2021 The Sun Will Get Up Soon was part of ART-IN-PLACE, a Chicago-based public art collaboration between CNL Projects and Terrain Exhibitions that invited people to exhibit artwork outside their home or from a window visible to the public during the shelter-in-place summer of 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Situated on the edge of my family’s front yard and parallel to the sidewalk, the sculpture reflects the sky above for passers-by and references yard signs found throughout our neighborhood.&nbsp; Memory Market https://john-early.com/Memory-Market Sun, 20 Mar 2022 12:36:54 +0000 John Early https://john-early.com/Memory-Market <img width="3842" height="2362" width_o="3842" height_o="2362" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c88d5fef306a5cd9063c55c1e5a9d7b88be3e723c64b288d1864dc9369c97f27/IMG_0809_edit_CROP.jpg" data-mid="136957719" border="0" data-rotation="-5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c88d5fef306a5cd9063c55c1e5a9d7b88be3e723c64b288d1864dc9369c97f27/IMG_0809_edit_CROP.jpg" /> <img width="3264" height="2448" width_o="3264" height_o="2448" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/da8cc8c2be42bc1d0b7091def55479852c5630b6a6df7e6bffe5e5576e087fc1/IMG_5239.JPG" data-mid="136952912" border="0" data-rotation="10" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/da8cc8c2be42bc1d0b7091def55479852c5630b6a6df7e6bffe5e5576e087fc1/IMG_5239.JPG" /> <img width="2505" height="1783" width_o="2505" height_o="1783" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0d155d44aadebb1337c4ea585c6cf1036718d0dc543041dbaf90f6a375a2aa9e/IMG_0827_edit_CROP.jpg" data-mid="136957682" border="0" data-rotation="2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0d155d44aadebb1337c4ea585c6cf1036718d0dc543041dbaf90f6a375a2aa9e/IMG_0827_edit_CROP.jpg" /> <img width="1024" height="768" width_o="1024" height_o="768" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c2234b93d11845cf169cf5f1dd62733d17808c93a46f8bcf40d8ea03c076706e/IMG_8602.JPG" data-mid="136952685" border="0" data-rotation="7.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c2234b93d11845cf169cf5f1dd62733d17808c93a46f8bcf40d8ea03c076706e/IMG_8602.JPG" /> <img width="3848" height="2612" width_o="3848" height_o="2612" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ebbe99b9467b71a1b4906d61fb4e57fd15693614c4aeb9796ab089ad987cb653/IMG_0813_edit_CROP.jpg" data-mid="136957681" border="0" data-rotation="-5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ebbe99b9467b71a1b4906d61fb4e57fd15693614c4aeb9796ab089ad987cb653/IMG_0813_edit_CROP.jpg" /> <img width="3990" height="2389" width_o="3990" height_o="2389" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8502a71bb2c64bad66c045c185ebb7620128e9970c698684a5fbf8a0139cd4cf/IMG_0804_edit_CROP.jpg" data-mid="136957684" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8502a71bb2c64bad66c045c185ebb7620128e9970c698684a5fbf8a0139cd4cf/IMG_0804_edit_CROP.jpg" /> <img width="3264" height="2448" width_o="3264" height_o="2448" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ff62bf44265f1fc2edf815f26b31f8ebab251257122b968088faf301a2259699/IMG_5159.JPG" data-mid="136952682" border="0" data-rotation="2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ff62bf44265f1fc2edf815f26b31f8ebab251257122b968088faf301a2259699/IMG_5159.JPG" /> <img width="2448" height="3264" width_o="2448" height_o="3264" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/89a4114155453c694b3ef15eea544627130b2169cc8d1927cfc67c72df6fd319/IMG_8555.JPG" data-mid="136952683" border="0" data-rotation="-7.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/89a4114155453c694b3ef15eea544627130b2169cc8d1927cfc67c72df6fd319/IMG_8555.JPG" /> <img width="768" height="1024" width_o="768" height_o="1024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ef61b370ad353e35e1861a67be6e27777431f51a6e47f9d6107de135eb6dc5d3/IMG_8604.JPG" data-mid="136952686" border="0" data-rotation="-2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/768/i/ef61b370ad353e35e1861a67be6e27777431f51a6e47f9d6107de135eb6dc5d3/IMG_8604.JPG" /> <img width="827" height="1169" width_o="827" height_o="1169" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/05c6e3a632b98416fc8b5621e76300cb8931fba8a102242b6fed8ac287154957/MMN_Takeaway_Front.jpg" data-mid="136957226" border="0" data-rotation="-15" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/827/i/05c6e3a632b98416fc8b5621e76300cb8931fba8a102242b6fed8ac287154957/MMN_Takeaway_Front.jpg" /> <img width="827" height="1169" width_o="827" height_o="1169" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6149023f86d58b1c8718de7ff2e33c0ffef644bab5ab57fa005b65c0113fb218/MMN_Takeaway_Back.jpg" data-mid="136957225" border="0" data-rotation="-7.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/827/i/6149023f86d58b1c8718de7ff2e33c0ffef644bab5ab57fa005b65c0113fb218/MMN_Takeaway_Back.jpg" /> <img width="1930" height="1557" width_o="1930" height_o="1557" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3e9c8513791112a5cd2e2d9079d2b9b087fc3f26db84ee6033dc50ddc7e5832a/IMG_0831_edit_CROP.jpg" data-mid="136957683" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3e9c8513791112a5cd2e2d9079d2b9b087fc3f26db84ee6033dc50ddc7e5832a/IMG_0831_edit_CROP.jpg" /> Memory Market Piazza Santa Maria NovellaFlorence, ItalyJuly 29, 2015 The Memory Market was a one-day, collaborative public performance in which artist and designer Jonathan Hanahan and I borrowed from the commercial activity and visual language of local street vendors to create an alternative market of mementos. Instead of selling wares such as teacups, thimbles, shot glasses and statuettes—items ubiquitous in tourist destinations yet often possessing only superficial associations with their assigned landmarks—we offered passersby items imbued with traces of the place in which they were sold. My contribution was a series of automobile fragments cast in a mixture of glue and dirt collected from area streets and sidewalks. A certificate of authenticity accompanied each purchase.&nbsp; Semicolons and Salt Shakers https://john-early.com/Semicolons-and-Salt-Shakers Fri, 18 Mar 2022 17:56:49 +0000 John Early https://john-early.com/Semicolons-and-Salt-Shakers <img width="5184" height="3456" width_o="5184" height_o="3456" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e33224e0fbd14ff49ac2e59b009d5e4f220ee1b3ebd2b01d4f13d747be79b934/IMG_7686.JPG" data-mid="136884854" border="0" data-rotation="-5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e33224e0fbd14ff49ac2e59b009d5e4f220ee1b3ebd2b01d4f13d747be79b934/IMG_7686.JPG" /> <img width="1280" height="862" width_o="1280" height_o="862" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b548ba9ec74ac56070a678f09364c3df6a37d59ffeb8c22b336de6f09d1f4768/tumblr_ncw5y3ibx91r5q386o7_1280.jpg" data-mid="136884860" border="0" data-rotation="2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b548ba9ec74ac56070a678f09364c3df6a37d59ffeb8c22b336de6f09d1f4768/tumblr_ncw5y3ibx91r5q386o7_1280.jpg" /> <img width="1280" height="853" width_o="1280" height_o="853" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/62e93e40e30469d86013dde960bcaccd6be163029217fcfe2cb8f13ef859efc2/tumblr_ncw5y3ibx91r5q386o2_1280.jpg" data-mid="136884858" border="0" data-rotation="2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/62e93e40e30469d86013dde960bcaccd6be163029217fcfe2cb8f13ef859efc2/tumblr_ncw5y3ibx91r5q386o2_1280.jpg" /> <img width="5184" height="3456" width_o="5184" height_o="3456" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d4fbe57201194115559688dd04b9e79e990a4343f31316ba919e21c9cb524171/IMG_7365.JPG" data-mid="136884853" border="0" data-rotation="10" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d4fbe57201194115559688dd04b9e79e990a4343f31316ba919e21c9cb524171/IMG_7365.JPG" /> <img width="3456" height="2304" width_o="3456" height_o="2304" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/446528d04f5df30f1765603fad4ca73637b701b383026abbf1f03aeab1d77f81/IMG_1814_edit_web.jpg" data-mid="136884195" border="0" data-rotation="2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/446528d04f5df30f1765603fad4ca73637b701b383026abbf1f03aeab1d77f81/IMG_1814_edit_web.jpg" /> <img width="2400" height="1600" width_o="2400" height_o="1600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d0eeb8c99c8c141eefb7998ce030a3f4c74ba36739a5e8d089fb72c6064d6b28/Untitled-baseball_bev.jpg" data-mid="136987768" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d0eeb8c99c8c141eefb7998ce030a3f4c74ba36739a5e8d089fb72c6064d6b28/Untitled-baseball_bev.jpg" /> <img width="3264" height="2448" width_o="3264" height_o="2448" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d560841540f62bb821fe01e086ed6885772f6a74a3d4be9357151e05d1450de2/navy-bedsheet.JPG" data-mid="136884857" border="0" data-rotation="2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d560841540f62bb821fe01e086ed6885772f6a74a3d4be9357151e05d1450de2/navy-bedsheet.JPG" /> <img width="1800" height="1200" width_o="1800" height_o="1200" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b79dcde2c148257fe91f18ebb0de9486a7de0e14fed2165bbbdc1e8d6ba4348d/Untitled-fences_postcard.jpg" data-mid="136987759" border="0" data-rotation="7.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b79dcde2c148257fe91f18ebb0de9486a7de0e14fed2165bbbdc1e8d6ba4348d/Untitled-fences_postcard.jpg" /> <img width="5184" height="3456" width_o="5184" height_o="3456" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b79252b50f4e95731ed7524aecd5364505c99c32409c1f77d3de7e1c40a40cc6/IMG_8010.JPG" data-mid="136884856" border="0" data-rotation="-2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b79252b50f4e95731ed7524aecd5364505c99c32409c1f77d3de7e1c40a40cc6/IMG_8010.JPG" /> <img width="1632" height="1224" width_o="1632" height_o="1224" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/32e85863c70d917c86700c80eb276d398c5016f46f463f3bb11549424c4ce25e/bev.jpg" data-mid="136884175" border="0" data-rotation="-2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/32e85863c70d917c86700c80eb276d398c5016f46f463f3bb11549424c4ce25e/bev.jpg" /> <img width="1280" height="837" width_o="1280" height_o="837" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/42af9fc549378988fb38e0ede52cbc2dd534df91330092b553732283640fa563/tumblr_ncw5y3ibx91r5q386o6_1280_edit.jpg" data-mid="136884859" border="0" data-rotation="-7.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/42af9fc549378988fb38e0ede52cbc2dd534df91330092b553732283640fa563/tumblr_ncw5y3ibx91r5q386o6_1280_edit.jpg" /> Semicolons and Salt ShakersSolo exhibition at beverly (St. Louis, MO)July 26-August 23, 2014 From the exhibition guide:&nbsp; “Semicolons and Salt Shakers studies the canny perception of the peripheral gaze -- finding significane in the trivial and formal rigor in the unwitting. Drawing upon Luigi Ghirri’s Kodachrome -- the landmark 1978 book of essays and photographs which sought to instruct viewers to see one’s reality more attentively -- Early combines seemingly off-hand snapshots with similarly casual sculptural assemblages. But this casualness is a deliberate sleight-of-hand: as relationships between images and objects accrue, a sense of exacting purpose emerges from the exhibition as a whole, one that seems to enact the environmental equivalent of Ghirri’s perceptual ambition. Moving amidst the large-scale drywall forms -- which are scale reproductions of the artist’s studio -- an intimate world becomes familiar and complex, a network of dynamic relationships. As a result, the very body of the viewer and the exhibition space itself become implicated -- acting as necessary components of Early’s aesthetic logic and partial collaborators in his visual experiment.”&nbsp; Objects in MIrror https://john-early.com/Objects-in-MIrror Fri, 18 Mar 2022 17:58:03 +0000 John Early https://john-early.com/Objects-in-MIrror <img width="5184" height="3456" width_o="5184" height_o="3456" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f7f4680f888d747e0d413d8fe309f73988e13c76e60d41a67b7a2c62b664b3f8/IMG_2839.JPG" data-mid="136889854" border="0" data-rotation="7.5" alt="11" data-caption="11" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f7f4680f888d747e0d413d8fe309f73988e13c76e60d41a67b7a2c62b664b3f8/IMG_2839.JPG" /> <img width="2502" height="1654" width_o="2502" height_o="1654" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/268411e0211f049b913a5d32d8ec52a9d900513543b8dd78cf281c8aaab5d0ab/Screen-Shot-2022-03-19-at-3.47.08-PM.png" data-mid="136912297" border="0" data-rotation="-5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/268411e0211f049b913a5d32d8ec52a9d900513543b8dd78cf281c8aaab5d0ab/Screen-Shot-2022-03-19-at-3.47.08-PM.png" /> <img width="5050" height="3367" width_o="5050" height_o="3367" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2b49a09d1611c768f686d9c742e9c90e0f748155d5911e65c446aa12684e8646/IMG_9156_edit.jpg" data-mid="136889537" border="0" data-rotation="7.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2b49a09d1611c768f686d9c742e9c90e0f748155d5911e65c446aa12684e8646/IMG_9156_edit.jpg" /> <img width="5184" height="3456" width_o="5184" height_o="3456" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/65cf8234a9b0ccc9674af42821564b9e1ca3150eb004b87951c150b5a9400757/IMG_9126_edit.jpg" data-mid="136889711" border="0" data-rotation="-2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/65cf8234a9b0ccc9674af42821564b9e1ca3150eb004b87951c150b5a9400757/IMG_9126_edit.jpg" /> <img width="4541" height="3027" width_o="4541" height_o="3027" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/646d51313931220064acb930e1255653213a2dea3c82cbc16857d9d94154e281/IMG_9137_edit.jpg" data-mid="136889536" border="0" data-rotation="-5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/646d51313931220064acb930e1255653213a2dea3c82cbc16857d9d94154e281/IMG_9137_edit.jpg" /> <img width="1994" height="1326" width_o="1994" height_o="1326" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e0856df7efee852300717121fc3d90a984d294c9e27521f92e4e5c220c26f4f7/Screen-Shot-2022-03-19-at-10.43.19-AM.png" data-mid="136890413" border="0" data-rotation="-5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e0856df7efee852300717121fc3d90a984d294c9e27521f92e4e5c220c26f4f7/Screen-Shot-2022-03-19-at-10.43.19-AM.png" /> <img width="5184" height="3456" width_o="5184" height_o="3456" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/95ccb70dcc5f1cbd4b4a15c8926ae1427eedeadbda81c3c40672793d9f62b762/IMG_2725_edit.jpg" data-mid="136889874" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/95ccb70dcc5f1cbd4b4a15c8926ae1427eedeadbda81c3c40672793d9f62b762/IMG_2725_edit.jpg" /> <img width="5184" height="3456" width_o="5184" height_o="3456" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f3901e8e581fc4eb97aaa81f91ce245743318a91d43704b9001dbcce62f720b5/IMG_2719_edit.jpg" data-mid="136889875" border="0" data-rotation="-7.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f3901e8e581fc4eb97aaa81f91ce245743318a91d43704b9001dbcce62f720b5/IMG_2719_edit.jpg" /> <img width="5184" height="3456" width_o="5184" height_o="3456" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8725d653cb83d0697cbd73e50a5b5734fc447a99101ab1e28f0b3ef639832a53/IMG_2948.JPG" data-mid="136889818" border="0" data-rotation="-5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8725d653cb83d0697cbd73e50a5b5734fc447a99101ab1e28f0b3ef639832a53/IMG_2948.JPG" /> <img width="1992" height="1324" width_o="1992" height_o="1324" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4c10801bbc5d978def2a75c9d5a519f7f651e60ea743fec0abfc73b20c1335cb/Screen-Shot-2022-03-19-at-10.43.33-AM.png" data-mid="136890412" border="0" data-rotation="2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4c10801bbc5d978def2a75c9d5a519f7f651e60ea743fec0abfc73b20c1335cb/Screen-Shot-2022-03-19-at-10.43.33-AM.png" /> <img width="5184" height="3456" width_o="5184" height_o="3456" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a8449031ebded580182adf412ead73ed85d01c6180f5a3cfd955765d07be3a9a/IMG_2716.JPG" data-mid="136889889" border="0" data-rotation="5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a8449031ebded580182adf412ead73ed85d01c6180f5a3cfd955765d07be3a9a/IMG_2716.JPG" /> Objects in MirrorSolo exhibition at The Garage (Charlottesville, VA), 2014 Group exhibition, Transitional, at Sixty-Six Twelve Art Space (University City, MO), 2012&nbsp; Objects in Mirror consists of found car parts arranged in the rough dimensions of a 1996 Honda Accord. For the exhibition at The Garage, car parts were collected from the streets surrounding the gallery the day prior to the exhibition. Community members also contributed several pieces to the exhibition. The car parts sit on cinder blocks that allude to automobile repair and serve as makeshift pedestals.&nbsp; For the exhibition at Sixty-Six Twelve Art Space, the sculpture was installed in the basement of a home. Car parts were suspended from the ceiling using monofilament and gently swayed as visitors moved throughout the space. Terra FIrma https://john-early.com/Terra-FIrma Sat, 19 Mar 2022 14:51:14 +0000 John Early https://john-early.com/Terra-FIrma <img width="5130" height="3416" width_o="5130" height_o="3416" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/227a2a30664bc5d2929902602990e325484dd1d0257db412d92d2e7dde333d35/IMG_0781_NEW.jpg" data-mid="136897649" border="0" data-rotation="-2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/227a2a30664bc5d2929902602990e325484dd1d0257db412d92d2e7dde333d35/IMG_0781_NEW.jpg" /> <img width="5184" height="3456" width_o="5184" height_o="3456" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/334feade400720982c6b91c547b0b3d5d36d3f65d6e1769ccee16701678b5dcd/IMG_0777_NEW.jpg" data-mid="136897648" border="0" data-rotation="5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/334feade400720982c6b91c547b0b3d5d36d3f65d6e1769ccee16701678b5dcd/IMG_0777_NEW.jpg" /> <img width="5037" height="3358" width_o="5037" height_o="3358" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/171afa268215d36e91367169ac1e17c5b3f0edf60a15d7c203bc3e4525c0dbe7/IMG_0752_edit.jpg" data-mid="136897646" border="0" data-rotation="-2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/171afa268215d36e91367169ac1e17c5b3f0edf60a15d7c203bc3e4525c0dbe7/IMG_0752_edit.jpg" /> <img width="5184" height="3456" width_o="5184" height_o="3456" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0fd9fab95b6a64ec3a45d55d36413c960b3680db1a0762bc40634d87a086bbcf/IMG_0785_NEW-copy.jpg" data-mid="136897651" border="0" data-rotation="2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0fd9fab95b6a64ec3a45d55d36413c960b3680db1a0762bc40634d87a086bbcf/IMG_0785_NEW-copy.jpg" /> <img width="5184" height="3456" width_o="5184" height_o="3456" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c5555c45f99a064470df6ab12125555744ee4972b3dcbcea18315c6febda2d7a/IMG_0753_NEW.jpg" data-mid="136897647" border="0" data-rotation="7.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c5555c45f99a064470df6ab12125555744ee4972b3dcbcea18315c6febda2d7a/IMG_0753_NEW.jpg" /> <img width="3456" height="5184" width_o="3456" height_o="5184" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3a3dc227048e514c80809d0f81d598050082e58fbe002433bce86b28ded39857/Terra-Firma_large.jpg" data-mid="136897652" border="0" data-rotation="2.5" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3a3dc227048e514c80809d0f81d598050082e58fbe002433bce86b28ded39857/Terra-Firma_large.jpg" /> Terra FirmaSolo exhibition at The Luminary (St. Louis, MO)June 10-July 22, 2011 This site-specific piece was installed in the chapel of a former convent. It consists of a wooden sculpture reminiscent of homemade bike and skate ramps, as well as two&nbsp; audio tracks that play simultaneously from opposite ends of the space. The sound of a&nbsp; pedaling bicycle eminates from under the ramp, while radio emissions&nbsp; from the Voyager 1 spacecraft play from the altar.&nbsp;