December 5 - January 5, 2024
Opening Reception Thursday, Dec. 5, 7-10pm
Artist Talk: TBA
Day & Night Projects presents the Reimagining Presence, a solo exhibition by artist Justin W. Archer. Sculpting near life-size figures in wood, glass, or bronze, and assisted by 3D scanning, digital modeling, and 3D printing, Archer’s "fractured sculptures” juxtapose the use of raw materials and technology, while allowing the viewers to fill in the cracks.
Reimagining Presence takes as its subject the famed Parthenon Marbles (or Elgin Marbles), 5th century Greek sculptures that were poached in the early 1800s as part of a dubious colonial endeavor—which still reside in the British Museum in London. Archer’s focus is on the two figures of Iris and Illisos, reduced to torsos as their marble was chipped and broken over time. Using 3D-printed resin, the artist recreates the hands, feet, and heads; the artist’s skill and sensibility interpret a recreation of expressions and gestures lost so long ago. Works on paper and a documentary video illustrate the digital building blocks and processes of sculpting in a way the early masters could have never imagined.
Reimagining Presence will open with a free, public reception on Thursday, Dec. 5, 7–10pm. Viewing hours are Fridays and Saturdays, 12–5pm, or by appointment.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Justin W. Archer
Justin is a sculptor using traditional carving practices along with technology assistance to examine the fragility and beauty of the human experience. Archer received his M.F.A from the University of North Texas in 2016 and is currently a professor at SCAD: Atlanta. Archer’s work has been exhibited in multiple galleries and museums located in Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, Louisiana, Ohio, and New York such as The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, RO2 Gallery, Center of Craft, Louisiana Tech, and Li Tang Gallery. Some of his work is currently being shown in the public collections Promenade de Sculptures in Lacoste, France, the Thompson: Buckhead Hotel, Texas Tech University, the Methodist Health System Foundation, Music Bed, and many other private collections. He presently lives in Atlanta with his wife Laura.
