"bus structure 2am-2pm"-Michelle
It was hard to miss Justin Stewart’s “bus structure 2am-2pm,” as it took up much space directly to your left when you enter the gallery. But that was not the only thing that attracted me to it: it was so geometric and architecturally driven that there was an immediate sense of order and symmetry to it. I thought that it would have been interesting with clear thread (like fishing line) so that from a distance the wooden balls and copper and steel appeared to be floating, but I really enjoyed the blue thread that was there (plus this way people are less likely to run into it!). The pattern of the thread changes depending on where you stand; if you look from one angle, you can see all of the threads running to their respective places, but if you look from dead center of the wood and copper structure, it looks like fewer strands that are much thicker.
Even though it’s not an interactive piece in the sense of “touch me, play with me, figure me out,” the fact that you can approach it from so many angles and walk between the outer sides and the inner structure, that it does feel interactive in a sense. I wished that the outer steel weights were bells; wouldn’t that have been fun (but annoying for the person at the front desk of the gallery!)?
Speaking of the weights, that system is so intricate; there must have been a lot of work put into the hanging alone! Think about it: having to find perfect balance for each thread so that the entire thing would hang straight. I did hear that the wood and copper structure was put on something flat until all of the threads were hung, but there still would have been room for error if one (or more) of the threads wasn’t quite taut, weights were estimated incorrectly, if the threads weren’t just the right length, etc. I wish I could know more about the actual setting up of the piece, but wondering is good, too—keeps me occupied and out of trouble. : )
I also wondered about the center structure: how are the wooden balls and copper wire held together? Did he drill little holes into the wood? Superglue? Both? I have no idea, but I’m curious. Architectural pieces must demand these kinds of questions, because they aren’t questions I’ve generally asked myself before—except for the headless, rhinestone horses at MIA (which was a fascinating process)! I also wondered how the whole structure tied to “bus structure” as in the title. I don’t think I looked closely enough at the elaborate center structure to notice specific patterns, but it was all so intricate that it wouldn’t have mattered. But then again, I’ve seen Metro Transit maps of their entire system and that in itself is incredibly elaborate; perhaps that was the artist’s point: we have an elaborate system that is complete, functional, and holds itself together. If that were the meaning of the center structure, I would venture to see the threads as those who ride the bus, because there would be no reason or need for such an intricate busing system (or any busing at all) if not for its riders. The riders (or thread) go off in their perspective directions and each one is different in length when it reaches its weight (which could maybe portray a final destination kind of scenario??) but still attached to that busing system. The piece gives a very neat and self-contained perspective of Metro Transit, which makes me think that the artist has spent a lot of time on the bus, has depended on it, and has come to appreciate it or at least recognize its immense presence in his life. I have personally found the busing system to be difficult, tiring, and time consuming, so a fresh perspective was interesting and encouraging to see.
I did have one problem with the piece, though, and that was in the title—specifically the “2am-2pm” part. What bus is going at 2am? I couldn’t catch a bus at 2am and had to walk in the freezing cold from downtown to campus because we hadn’t planned the return trip. Okay, end rant.
In the end, I found the piece engaging and calming in its geometric nature; if I had a really large living room, it would be a fun addition!