John Swartwout (b. 1971) grew up in a rural community outside the township of Pine River, Wisconsin, where he used to spend countless hours as kids building forts throughout large patches of woods, around his parents home with his brother.  He was always making things in the family garage.......sometimes dangerous things. However; he once went to his father’s metal shop and was surrounded by metal working machines that spun, twirled, hisssed, and glistened. It had such an affect that to this day you can find elements of this in his work.  Just as important, he grew up in in the typical upper-midwestern environment seeping and I mean……….seeping with dry humor, which I think seeped into his work as well.  Many growing seasons passed and he went on to graduate from two art schools, which were Viterbo University and UW-Madison.  After which, his crazy art shenanigans took him to Britain, Germany, and Northwestern Ontario.  During his time abroad, he had the honor of working as a community artist through ArtsAccess and wangled teenagers for YAK:  youth arts council. He has participated in numerous group and solo shows ranging from museums to film festivals. He also serves on the board for the Autism Society of Central Wisconsin, is actively volunteering in Special Olympics events, and when he has to builds large castles for the Wisconsin Rapids Children’s Theatre. He now lives in his home state of Wisconsin, where he’s very happy with his wife Birgit and his two sons Johnathon and Samuel.