Slither.walk.fly

Vivian Beer, Slither.walk.fly, 2008, steel and automotive paint, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Leon and Miriam Ellsworth, Brenda Erickson, Jere Gibber and J.G. Harrington, and David and Clemmer Montague in honor of the fortieth anniversary of the Renwick Gallery, 2013.22, © 2008, Vivian Beer. Photo by Wexler Gallery, Philadelphia
Copied Vivian Beer, Slither.walk.fly, 2008, steel and automotive paint, 38 x 95 x 45 3⁄4 in. (96.5 x 241.3 x 116.2 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Leon and Miriam Ellsworth, Brenda Erickson, Jere Gibber and J.G. Harrington, and David and Clemmer Montague in honor of the fortieth anniversary of the Renwick Gallery, 2013.22, © 2008, Vivian Beer. Photo by Wexler Gallery, Philadelphia

Artwork Details

Title
Slither.walk.fly
Artist
Date
2008
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
38 x 95 x 45 3⁄4 in. (96.5 x 241.3 x 116.2 cm)
Copyright
© 2008, Vivian Beer. Photo by Wexler Gallery, Philadelphia
Credit Line
Gift of Leon and Miriam Ellsworth, Brenda Erickson, Jere Gibber and J.G. Harrington, and David and Clemmer Montague in honor of the fortieth anniversary of the Renwick Gallery
Mediums Description
steel and automotive paint
Classifications
Object Number
2013.22
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/2013.22

Artwork Description

With a fusion of seemingly contrasting ideas—masculine and feminine, historical and contemporary, functional and decorative—Vivian Beer transforms steel from a rigid raw material into sensuous, curving furniture. Though abstracted, her pieces reference forms from nature and culture that embody beauty and power. Slither.walk.fly, which alludes to muscle cars and animal tailfeathers, looks like it could be ridden rather than simply used as a seat. As with many of her works, the impression of movement is both seductive and slightly intimidating.

Related Books

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40 Under 40: Craft Futures
40 Under 40: Craft Futures examines the expanding role of the handmade in contemporary culture through the work of the next generation of artists. Organized in celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the Renwick Gallery, the Smithsonian's branch museum for American craft and decorative arts, this project gathers forty makers born since 1972, the year the Renwick opened to the public. Apparent are rapidly evolving notions of craft, ranging from traditional media, such as ceramics and jewelry, to fields as varied as sculpture, industrial design, performance and installation art, fashion design, sustainable manufacturing, and mathematics.