The O-Fish-al Art Show

Exhibition Statement

The 0-Fish-al Art Show was organized by the staff of the Schneider Museum of Art. The exhibition featured work by noted contemporary artists from across the country. Part of the significance of the exhibition lay in the variety of styles, techniques, and media employed by the artists in their depiction of a specific subject matter.

As an artistic motif, the use of fish dates back to pre­historic times. Fish were a common motif in works of art in virtually every culture of the Far East. The image had special significance in native American art, particularly among tribal units along the Northwest coast. During the early Christian period, the fish became a symbol of Christianity and took its place in various forms of expression of the time. In the Middle Ages, the fish was identified as a sign in the Zodiac and the constellation Pisces. In the modern era, artists discovered a colorful and challenging subject in fish. Coupling the natural grace and beauty of fish with shimmering light on water, artists used the motif to express picturesque beauty. In other forms of expression, fish became symbols used to redefine mankind’s relationship to nature or simply a motif to explore aesthetic possibilities.

This exhibition attempted to survey the various ways contemporary artists have explored these aesthetic possibilities using fish as a primary motif. In the final analysis, this exhibition revealed a fascinating and extraordinarily beautiful creature of nature well suited for artistic expression.

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