Kopperl, Texas like many small towns, is just a small blip on a map and most people
would never know it was there. I wanted to visually showcase the beauty of the decay of
this small town. Each artwork has little hints of either personal family stories or
someone familiar with the community would know. Eventually these spaces will disappear
and will become a distant memory of a time of how things used to be and will disappear
with the people who hold special memories to them. These structures were designed for
purpose and a force of permanence and yet the ruins linger as a reminder when the train
used to stop in Kopperl, TX. These structures now have become headstones of memories
that become distant and fade into time. I continue to gather stories and songs from
relatives and people of the community as I incorporate nostalgia from my own personal
experience but also revealing the reality of what is yet to come, which is one day I
will have to let this place go.
Artist Bio
Justin grew up in Farmers Branch, Texas and studied close to home at the University of
North Texas. He earned his BFA focusing on Studio Drawing and Painting in 2013 and
currently is an art educator in Tarrant County and a Golden Working Artist for Golden
Artist Colors. While Justin was achieving his degree, between 2008 - 2011 he and his
twin brother Jonathan were signed to Island/Def Jam/Mercury Records and traveled the
United States. Justin utilizes airbrush and acrylic paint on transparent and semi-transparent
surfaces to create an illusion of depth of interior and exterior spaces. These places are
focused primarily on the Burns family farm which was established in 1914 and the
surrounding community of Kopperl, Texas.
ABOUT THE ARTS COUNCIL OF FORT WORTH
The Arts Council of Fort Worth was formed in 1963 to provide funding and leadership to
stimulate and assure the advancement of the arts throughout Fort Worth. Today’s Arts Council
continues to promote, nurture, and support the arts in Fort Worth by providing fiscal and
business resources to local artists and arts groups while also serving the community
through management of the Fort Worth Public Art Program and Fort Worth Community Arts
Center. The Arts Council of Fort Worth is supported in part by the City of Fort Worth and
the Texas Commission on the Arts. For more information, please visit www.artsfortworth.org.
ABOUT THE FORT WORTH COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER
Located at 1300 Gendy Street, the Fort Worth Community Arts Center is part of the most
architecturally significant museum districts in the United States, Fort Worth’s Cultural
District. The Arts Center’s mission promotes experienced and emerging artists with nine
indoor galleries and an outdoor courtyard gallery. The Arts Center’s Hardy and Betty
Sanders black box theatre and the William Edrington Scott Theatre hosts a wide range of
performances by local and nationally known artists and organizations. The historically
significant building is home to artists’ studios, nonprofit arts organization office
suites, and classrooms. Learn more at www.fwcac.org
