Sculpture
Object number2023.28.1
Artist
James Shipman
(1953 - 2020)
Date1991
MediumConcrete(?); Iron; Ink
Credit LineGift of Judith R. Robinson
DescriptionSculpture comprised of gray-brown concrete-type material and iron. Concrete(?) architectural fragment-like section that looks like a partial building cornice with carved elements and glossy light gray/beige glaze; reverse is rough unglazed material. Mounted atop the concrete(?) sculpture is a dark brown iron hook with ring at one end; hook is adhered with dark blue-gray adhesive material. DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 9.875 x 15.375 x 6.25 in. (25.1 x 39.1 x 15.9 cm)Signed"James Shipman / 91" on the underside in black ink.
Historical NotesSculpture by James Shipman. The Sculpture was part of a 1991 exhibition at Carson Street Gallery that was a collaboration between Shipman, 17 poets, and 15 photographers. The poets each took home one of Shipman’s found object sculptures to live with for several months and write a poem about the piece. The photographers then responded to both the poems and sculptures in their work. The poet Susan Sheppard responded to the donated Shipman sculpture. James Shipman is a native of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania and received his degree in fine arts from Carnegie Mellon in 1984. He was both an artist and teacher and was most known for his signature large round ceramic “earth discs”. He started a fine arts company called ShipArt in 1991 and practiced his art for many years out of a large studio space in the Millvale Industrial Park on Route 28. He and fellow artist Ed Eberle operated out of the studio for many years where they collaborated with other local artists such as Robert Qualters, James Simon, and Gary Pletsch. When they had to close that studio due to widening of Route 28 in 2010, he moved into a studio space in Wilkinsburg. James Shipman died by suicide on October 23, 2020. He was survived by his wife Jennifer Bell and daughter Elizabeth.
Related institution
Carnegie Mellon University
Related person
Susan Sheppard
Subjects
On View
Not on view
1968-2001
Unknown
