John Spaulding (artist)

{{Short description|American artist (1942–2004)}}

{{Infobox artist

| name = John Spaulding

| image = John Spaulding - Stierch.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| alt =

| caption = John Spaulding (1992)

| birth_name = John Andrew Spaulding

| birth_date = October 18, 1942

| birth_place = Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

| death_date = {{death date and age|2004|07|10|1942|10|18}}

| death_place = Phoenix, Arizona

| nationality = American

| known_for = Sculpture

| training = Self-taught

| movement = Contemporary, Abstract

| notable_works = Black Titan, Untitled (Jazz Musicians), Jammin' on the Avenue

| patrons = Lilly Endowment

| awards = The New York Brass Conference for Scholarships, National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship

| elected =

| website =

}}

John A. Spaulding (October 18, 1942 – July 10, 2004) was an American artist and sculptor from Indianapolis, Indiana. He was born in Lockefield Gardens, an Indianapolis public housing project on Indiana Avenue, which was known for its jazz clubs.{{cite book | last =Greiff | first =Glory-June | title =Remembrance, Faith & Fancy; Outdoor Public Sculpture in Indiana | publisher =Indiana Historical Society Press | year =2005 | location =Indianapolis | pages =169–70 | isbn =0-87195-180-0}} Two of Spaulding's sculptures, Jammin' on the Avenue and Untitled (Jazz Musicians), are located near his birthplace and celebrate the area's musical heritage.{{cite web | title = Discover Indiana Avenue: Outdoor Art | publisher = Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. | url = http://www.discoverindianaavenue.com/userctl.cfm?PageContentTypeID=1&PageContentID=10 | accessdate = 2013-04-12 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090315111047/http://www.discoverindianaavenue.com/userctl.cfm?PageContentTypeID=1&PageContentID=10 | archive-date = 2009-03-15 | url-status = dead }}{{cite web|title=Discover Indiana Avenue: Overview |publisher=Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. |url=http://www.discoverindianaavenue.com/userctl.cfm?PageContentTypeID=1&PageContentID=8 |accessdate=2013-04-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130715074006/http://www.discoverindianaavenue.com/userctl.cfm?PageContentTypeID=1&PageContentID=8 |archivedate=2013-07-15 }}

Spaulding was the fifth of seven children. He attended Indianapolis Public Schools 24 and 26 and Arsenal Technical High School. He was a self-taught welder. Spaulding worked part-time on his art, while working as a metal-joining specialist in the aerospace industry in California in the 1960s. He relocated to New York City in 1978 and continued to work on his art. Spaulding's work is internationally recognized, with pieces on display in several countries including Brazil, Japan, France, and England. He had studios for creating his works in California, New York, Rio de Janeiro, and Indianapolis.{{cite news | title =Noted Sculptor John Spaulding Passes Away | newspaper =Indianapolis Recorder | location =Indianapolis, IN | page =C5 | date =July 16, 2004 | url =http://indiamond6.ulib.iupui.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/IRecorder/id/57083/rec/39 | accessdate =2013-04-22}} His sculptures have been inspired by nature and his African American heritage. He also created several large abstracts. Spaulding's work is included in private and public collections such as Black Titan at the Indianapolis Art Center's ArtsPark.{{cite web| title =ArtsPark Sculpture Walk| publisher =Indianapolis Arts Center | year =2012 | url = http://indplsartcenter.org/Assets/uploads/Artspark-brochure-2012.pdf | accessdate =2013-04-12}}Indianapolis Art Center ARTSPARK Sculptures. "Sculptures Throughout ARTSPARK." January 30, 2009. {{cite web |url=http://www.indplsartcenter.org/ARTSPARK%20Brochure_LR.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2010-04-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726175429/http://www.indplsartcenter.org/ARTSPARK%20Brochure_LR.pdf |archivedate=2011-07-26 }} The artist died on July 10, 2004, in Phoenix, Arizona.