Fern

Cleo Hartwig, Fern, 1981, stone, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Albert Glinsky, 1984.43
Cleo Hartwig, Fern, 1981, stone, 15 3⁄4 x 8 3⁄4 x 6 1⁄4 in. (40.0 x 22.2 x 15.9 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Albert Glinsky, 1984.43

Artwork Details

Title
Fern
Artist
Date
1981
Location
Dimensions
15 3⁄4 x 8 3⁄4 x 6 1⁄4 in. (40.0 x 22.2 x 15.9 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Albert Glinsky
Mediums
Mediums Description
stone
Classifications
Subjects
  • Object — foliage — fern
Object Number
1984.43
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1984.43

Artwork Description

Cleo Hartwig based Fern on the plant she remembered from her childhood in rural Michigan. In this piece she retained the texture and weightiness of the hard stone and stylized the individual fern fronds in order to express the plant’s formal beauty. Yet despite Fern’s abstracted appearance, the curled fronds suggest balled-up energy and the potential for growth. Indeed, the trio of leaves resembles a family group, in which the two taller “adult” fronds watch protectively over their “child.”

Works by this artist (4 items)

Ted Gordon, Cat, 1969, felt-tipped pen and ink and collage on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak, 1982.114.2
Cat
Artist
Date1969
felt-tipped pen and ink and collage on paperboard
Not on view
Ted Gordon, Orange Face, 1982, colored pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.110
Orange Face
Artist
Date1982
colored pencil on paper
Not on view
Ted Gordon, (Untitled--Cat), 1982, ballpoint pen and ink, felt-tipped pen and ink, crayon and, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak, 1983.56
(Untitled – Cat)
Artist
Date1982
ballpoint pen and ink, felt-tipped pen and ink, crayon and
Not on view
Ted Gordon, (Untitled--Face), 1979, felt-tipped pen and ink, ballpoint pen and ink, and pencil on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak, 1982.114.3
(Untitled – Face)
Artist
Date1979
felt-tipped pen and ink, ballpoint pen and ink, and pencil on paperboard
Not on view

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