Wayne Bishop has spent his entire career in technology, working as an entrepreneur, project manager and software engineer — bridging the divide between business and technology for companies including Microsoft and non-profit groups in the Seattle region.
And he has immersed himself in the world of fine art. Working with his wife, Karen Bishop, he has created Galleries HQ, a content platform that gives artists and art galleries a way to showcase their work to an audience of people around the globe. After launching a successful iPad app, they’re currently in the midst of a Kickstarter campaign to fund an expansion of Galleries HQ to the iPhone.
He is a Canadian who grew up in Victoria, B.C., which often surprises people. “I guess I’ve finally mastered my American accent,” he says.
Meet our new Geek of the Week, and continue reading for his answers to our questionnaire.
What do you do, and why do you do it? My current work is on a project called Galleries HQ. In a nutshell, it’s a project designed to promote fine art and artists through mobile technology. It was based on an idea that came to me in 2010. Fast forward to today and we currently promote works from over 80 artists in a dozen countries. Most of my time has been spent building the service for iPad. We’re also running a Kickstarter campaign for us to expand on iPhone.
I started the project because I think there’s a lot happening in the art world folks would like, if they had the tools and services to keep them engaged. Companies invest millions to produce video games for every kind of platform and device imaginable. By contrast, relatively little goes into producing specialized tools to promote art and culture. I am working for the opportunity to change that.
What’s the single most important thing people should know about your field? Like with most professions, bringing even the simplest of projects to completion is often difficult. With websites like Healthcare.gov in the national spotlight (because of bugs and performance issues) most experienced professionals understand that coordinating plans, resources and technologies is an art — rather than a science.
Where do you find your inspiration? My two favorite spots for inspiration include TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) presentations and Medium.com. I’m a terrible public speaker so seeing accomplished folks speak about things they believe in keeps me going. Medium.com is also a great place to find an inspiring story.
What’s the one piece of technology you couldn’t live without, and why? My Sonicare toothbrush. Hopefully, I shouldn’t have to explain why.
What’s your workspace like, and why does it work for you? Ironically for someone who is into art, my workspace isn’t anything fancy. It’s just like one would imagine. Video hookup to a large monitor, a notepad, Macbook pro and stickies on the wall. Even though I produce software for the iPad, I still use paper frequently (yes, actual paper not the app ).
Your best tip or trick for managing everyday work and life. (Help us out, we need it.) Sleep and exercise. When asked, most entrepreneurs will say the same thing.
Mac, Windows or Linux? Mac. However, I am relieved to see the start button back in Windows 8.
Kirk, Picard, or Janeway? Picard. Are you kidding?
Transporter, Time Machine or Cloak of Invisibility? Transporter all the way. Although, I would settle for light rail to the Seattle Eastside.
Geek of the Week is a regular feature profiling the characters of the Pacific Northwest technology community. See the Geek of the Week archive for more.
Be a future Geek of the Week! Fill out and submit our online questionnaire.
If someone gave me $1 million to launch a startup, I would … ..start building our service for iPhone and extend it to Android and Windows Phone. I would also start an art rental program.
I once waited in line for … the chance to buy my first CD player for $99. An outrageous deal in the 80’s! My buddy and I lined up outside at 5:30 AM, Boxing Day (yes, that’s December 26th). The store opened at 9:00AM. I froze and almost got trampled, but I got my deal.
Your role models: Some public figures that are inspiring include Elon Musk, Tim Westergren, Michael Dell, Michael Bloomberg and Martin Luther King. Of course, my Mother tops the list. All of them have shown great leadership in times of adversity.
Greatest Game in History DOOM!
Best Gadget Ever: iPad
First Computer: Commodore 64
Current Phone: Samsung Galaxy S3
Favorite App: NPR
Favorite Cause: Seattle Children’s Hospital Guild Association
Most important technology of 2013: Audi’s self-parking car
Most important technology of 2015: The Hyperloop
Final words of advice for your fellow geeks: Enjoy the journey, learn from your experiences, don’t take it personally and listen to your friends and family.
Twitter: @gallerieshq
LinkedIN: Wayne Bishop
