Justin archer: weathered patterns
July 29 - September 2, 2023
Press Release
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Ro2 Art is proud to present Weathered Patterns, an exhibition of new work by Savannah-based artist Justin Archer. The exhibition will open July 29 and remain on view through September 2, 2023, at Ro2 Art located at 2606 Bataan St., Dallas, TX, with an opening reception to be held July 29 from 7-10pm.
In Weathered Patterns, Justin Archer examines fragility, aging, and endurance in lifesize, realistically carved wood figures. Referencing the techniques and style of classical sculpture, Archer creates an interchange between the past and the present. Fascinated by the incompleteness and fragmentary nature of historical sculpture, Archer engages with weathering not as a subtractive experience, but one that results in many possibilities. In his work, the figure is carefully carved, but while some areas of the body are highly realistic, others areas have holes and rougher textures. The sculptures are not static figures in pose or surface, but rather they are figures of change, transforming into and out of, growing and shrinking, waxing and waning. In Weathered Patterns, Justin Archer’s series of work looks back towards the weathering of historical sculpture, while simultaneously forward to their own potential weathering. |
show Statement
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My work considers fragility through lifesize wood figures. “Weathered Patterns” focuses this theme into a singular question. With the creation of these pieces I was interested in a dialogue between classical sculpture and our contemporary experiences. As I studied historic images, I found their incompleteness invites contemplation about the possible.
It is weathered sculptures, such as the “Winged Victory of Samothrace” and many less recognized fragments, that inform the aesthetic and conceptual elements of this space. The immersion of this idea is then further expressed in the environmental constructions surrounding these pieces. The seemingly digital deterioration that has occurred to these sculptures creates potential, rather than a conclusion. The opportunity to imagine what has occurred, what is still here, and what these works could become. The opportunity to consider - Does weathering produce beauty? |
ARTIST STATEMENT
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There are millennia of organic life hidden in stone, exposed by enduring winds. Breathtaking sites of water-carved landscapes. Masterworks of ancient cultures that perpetually draw our attention, despite nature’s persistent effects on them. If wonder is produced from nature’s imposition, can it be so in our own lives?
My sculptural works contemplate the fragility and beauty found in the contemporary human experience. These figures begin with a 3D scan of someone who embodies the concepts contained within the image, which serves as a working model for the gesture of each piece. From this model I laminate numerous blocks of wood, containing negative spaces and fragmented pieces. Through traditional wood carving processes these structures are laboriously formed into lifesize figures and geometric voids are revealed. The subtractive process of carving alludes to the ongoing weathering that slowly shapes our lives. The seemingly digital voids reflect the fragility within the figure, evoking new sentiments about the deeper internal states we experience. Often inspired by meaningful artworks in history, I consider narrative, symbolism, power structures, and the cultural significance of sculptures in the ancient world that continue to impact us. Researching the origins of the Winged Victory of Samothrace, who remains a persistent symbol of hope despite her fractured appearance, led to “A Whisper Over the Waters” (2020). This fractured figure was a response to the necessary reminder of hope amidst the global trauma we shared during the recent pandemic. “Deep Haven” (2022) was produced after exploring the various depictions of King David. It was Michelangelo’s David, in his graceful power but weather beaten shoulders, that spoke to the beauty of the human experience. This led me to sculpt David, not as warrior king, but as dancer and psalmist. The one who presented us through the Hebrew scriptures with a beautiful, painful, and dynamic perspective of life. There are many storms around us, societally and internally. My work explores how these storms connect us, and asks how we might find wonder as we step through them – what wonders might await us. |
About the Artist
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Justin W. Archer is a sculptor whose work considers fragility and beauty found in the human experience. He received his M.F.A. in 2016 from the University of North Texas, and is currently a Professor of Sculpture in Atlanta. Archer’s work has been exhibited at Love Field Airport in Dallas, Cross-Pollination Art Lab and Mason Fine Art Gallery in Atlanta, the Louisiana Biennial, R02 Gallery in Dallas, Miami University in Ohio, and many other galleries nationally. He has artwork in the collections of the Thompson Buckhead, the SCAD Museum of Art, Texas Tech University, the Methodist Health System Foundation, Music Bed, along with many others. He lives with his wife, Laura, in Atlanta, Georgia.
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installation views
individual works
Justin Archer, A Whisper Over the Waters, 2020, Basswood and acrylic paint, 72 x 24 x 24 in.
Justin Archer, Deep Haven, 2022, Walnut and acrylic paint, 80 x 28 x 28 in.
Justin Archer, Well Worn, 2022, Basswood and acrylic paint, 40 x 31 x 24 in.
