R. Justin Stewart's "Self Portrait"
R. Justin Stewart's piece entitled "Self Portrait (Bus October 7th–November 6th)"
Immediately upon entering the Katherine Nash Gallery, the multiple shades of brilliant blue rectangles lined horizontally across the wall are hard to miss. Stewart's piece demands an inquisitive eye, for it is not straight away noticeable that the color squares have white scar-like lines methodically etched on 30 of the 31 pieces. After that, one can see that each solid blue square has a date marked in the lower right corner, and that many of the scar-like marks are replicated in others: the same length, same location, same twist to the left here, or a sharp upward turn there. These lines are none other than the bus route taken on the day each square represents, presumably traveled by the artist himself, considering it is entitled "Self Portrait."
One can walk from one end of the horizontal "portraits" to the other, and develop a narrative about the bus routes taken. Many days there is just one way taken; other times, a return trip is evident, overlapping the other line. Some of the days have a line that looks completely different than any route we have seen before, indicating a change in routine, perhaps a visit to a friend, a trip to the mall, or maybe he fell asleep on the bus and it took him too far. Some days it looks like a transfer route was taken, revealed by multiple lines criss-crossing the vast expanse of blue. Then one must consider the significance of the color blue, assuming there is one. The changes in shade can also create a narrative, possibly one signifying a particular emotion for that day, but really could be any number of factors, such as specific data compiled to create a darker color for one day and a lighter color for the next. And as you near the end of the 31 days, you come across a very pale day, so pale that it is very difficult to see a bus route so you stare for awhile trying to spot it until you think, "Actually, I don't think he took the bus this day. What on earth did he do that day?" He is clearly someone who relies on the bus system, given that 30 out of 31 days include at least one bus ride. However, if all of the days had had a bus route marked, I wouldn't have taken notice. This pale blue day is special, and one that that gives the piece a certain feel to it.
Stewart has uniquely graphed out a simple daily routine, and though it is his own self portrait, it is portrayed in a way that many can create their own story for it. In a way, it looks like a story board, and though it is a finished artwork, there is so much room left to work with that each viewer has the freedom to create their own narrative, effectively finishing what Stewart began.
My own narrative allowed me to imagine in what circumstances I would need to ride the bus so frequently. This person probably doesn't have a car, which leads to two more possibilities: that is a voluntary choice, or an involuntary reality. The first situation forms in my mind the image of an environmentalist, and that is the narrative I followed in my own interpretation. The second option (involuntary reality) implies a certain level of needs unmet. In any case, both narratives are very different and both demand a willingness to inquire and discover and create, at the same time as bring to light some social situations that just need to be thought about.