
August and the Red Glass (Primary Title)
Janet Fish, American, born 1938 (Artist)
"When people look at realist paintings, they focus on the objects, which I don’t think are the subject at all." —Janet Fish
The subject of Fish’s paintings are almost always still lifes made with familiar objects such as fruits and flowers, vases and bowls, and store-packaged items. Fish selects and arranges her objects in complex scenes to maximize the play of light and color. In fact, Fish’s true subjects are light and color and the way they play over various surfaces and the senseof atmosphere they create.
Although faithful to her observations, the colorful scenes Fish paints are further invigorated by her brushwork and attention to patterns formed by distorting reflections. Here ten glasses on a shiny tray or counter create a dazzling spectacle.
Huntington Galleries, West VA, 2 Jun - 18 Aug 1984
Muscarelle Mus. College of William and Mary Willaimsburg, VA, 14 Feb - 14 Apr 1984
Randolph-Macon Woman's College, Lynchburg, VA, 6 Nov - Dec 1983
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY, 25 Mar - 29 May 1983
Univ. Memorial Gallery, U of Rochester, NY, 30 Jan - 13 Mar 1983
Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson, Miss., 31 Jan - 14 Mar 1982
Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, Penn., 14 Nov 1982 - 16 Jan 1983
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 28 March - 30 May 1982
Columbia Musuem of Art, Columbia, SC, 15 Nov 1981 - 10 Jan 1982
Morehead State University, Morehead, KY, 31 Aug - 16 Oct 1981
Edna Carlsten Gallery, University of Wisconsin, Stephens Point, Wisconsin, 27 Jan - 15 March 1981
Ulrich Museum, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS, 1 Apr - 31 May 1981
Madison Art Center, Madison, Wisconsin, 23 Nov 1980 - 18 Jan 1981
"The Sydney and Frances Lewis Foundation Collection", The Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, Ohio, 21 September - 9 Nov 1980
North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, North Carolina, 19 Nov 1977 - 1 Jan 1978
"8 Contemporary American Realists", Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, 16 Sept - 30 Oct 1977
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.