Bodies of water show write up in Atlanta Journal Constitution
Rocks, clay, H2O -- go figure
BYLINE: JERRY CULLUM
DATE: June 15, 2006
PUBLICATION: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA)
EDITION: Main; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
SECTION: accessAtlanta
PAGE: P31
JUSTIN BISHOP looks at figures a little differently. Most of us care about the surface; the young Atlanta sculptor is more interested in how much room the figure takes up.
This means that one of the pieces in his "Bodies of Water" show at House of Colors, his "self-portrait," so to speak, consists of rocks and a glass container like an oversized aquarium. A video explains all: Bishop got into the container half-full of water, marked the level of the water on the glass, then got out and piled in river rocks until the water rose to the mark.
Other sculptures are more literal but just as unexpected. "Landlocked" is a life-size clay figure lying on the floor. Here, he spread wet clay from Virginia over a plaster core, and the clay cracked as it dried. Some people may find this beautiful; others, well, may find it creepy, whether they think of crime scene outlines or of Frankenstein's monster.
Bishop, though, is concerned more with rocks, clay and water, all imported from his home state of Virginia, and in some cases from his family home. He's a consummate metal sculptor, but most of his metal pieces are titled "Rocks." They look, in fact, like hollowed-out rocks, full of water. Or partly full; the water is evaporating, and the iron has created a layer of floating rust particles.
A standing figure and large drawings complete the exhibit. It'd take too long to explain Bishop's philosophy, and it doesn't much matter; what matters is the pleasure of coming across these artworks (and video documentation) on Miami Circle, a street which despite some major galleries is more associated with antiques and decor than with cutting-edge art.
• THE 411: Through July 28. 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. House of Colors, 690 Miami Circle, Suite 700. 404-233-6738.
Photo -- Justin Bishop's painting, "Leveling the Stones," and sculpture, "Investigation of Form," look into mass, matter and space.
BYLINE: JERRY CULLUM
DATE: June 15, 2006
PUBLICATION: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA)
EDITION: Main; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
SECTION: accessAtlanta
PAGE: P31
JUSTIN BISHOP looks at figures a little differently. Most of us care about the surface; the young Atlanta sculptor is more interested in how much room the figure takes up.
This means that one of the pieces in his "Bodies of Water" show at House of Colors, his "self-portrait," so to speak, consists of rocks and a glass container like an oversized aquarium. A video explains all: Bishop got into the container half-full of water, marked the level of the water on the glass, then got out and piled in river rocks until the water rose to the mark.
Other sculptures are more literal but just as unexpected. "Landlocked" is a life-size clay figure lying on the floor. Here, he spread wet clay from Virginia over a plaster core, and the clay cracked as it dried. Some people may find this beautiful; others, well, may find it creepy, whether they think of crime scene outlines or of Frankenstein's monster.
Bishop, though, is concerned more with rocks, clay and water, all imported from his home state of Virginia, and in some cases from his family home. He's a consummate metal sculptor, but most of his metal pieces are titled "Rocks." They look, in fact, like hollowed-out rocks, full of water. Or partly full; the water is evaporating, and the iron has created a layer of floating rust particles.
A standing figure and large drawings complete the exhibit. It'd take too long to explain Bishop's philosophy, and it doesn't much matter; what matters is the pleasure of coming across these artworks (and video documentation) on Miami Circle, a street which despite some major galleries is more associated with antiques and decor than with cutting-edge art.
• THE 411: Through July 28. 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. House of Colors, 690 Miami Circle, Suite 700. 404-233-6738.
Photo -- Justin Bishop's painting, "Leveling the Stones," and sculpture, "Investigation of Form," look into mass, matter and space.
Smother News Write up
December 10, 2004
CONTACT:
Beth Flannigan, (404) 651-3576
University Relations
Cast in concrete: Student self-sculpture chosen for downtown art installation
ATLANTA — The face of one Georgia State University art student will soon become very familiar to Atlantans who pass through the intersection of Gilmer Street and Peachtree Center Avenue.
Justin Bishop’s public-art project, “Smother,” was selected for installation in the 2005 Ernest G. Welch School of Art and Design’s Student Sculpture Garden Project.
Bishop’s sculpture features a life-size cast of his smiling face and neck as he appears to emerge from a hardened column of concrete.
“The smile on the face of the figure is meant to represent an acceptance of his predicament as well as knowledge of it being self-induced,” said Bishop, a first year graduate student in the sculpture department. “Although it was born from an emotion caused by schoolwork, people everywhere feel smothered -- from business people to the homeless – everyone can relate to this sculpture and hopefully they will feel a little lighter after viewing it.”
A panel of Georgia State faculty and staff along with a representative of the Metropolitan Public Art Coalition selected Bishop’s concept from eight student proposals.
“Justin’s work stood out from the rest because of his highly professional proposal and the sculpture’s appealing sense of humor,” said Cathy Byrd, project co-coordinator and gallery director.
The sculpture is scheduled for installation in the garden in time for the April 7 opening ceremony of the 2005 project.
“I think one of the greatest aspects of this opportunity for our student artists is the structure – there’s a great support system in place,” said Chris Rothermel, project co-coordinator and visiting lecturer of sculpture. “Students learn how to prepare and realize a public-art project with their professors as mentors. It’s an academic experience.”
