Cephlapod 5

David Gilhooly, Cephlapod 5, 1971, white earthenware and glazes, 4 144 146 34 in. (10.810.817.1 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. David K. Anderson, Martha Jackson Memorial Collection, 1980.137.30

Artwork Details

Title
Cephlapod 5
Date
1971
Dimensions
4 144 146 34 in. (10.810.817.1 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. David K. Anderson, Martha Jackson Memorial Collection
Mediums
Mediums Description
white earthenware and glazes
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — fish
Object Number
1980.137.30

Artwork Description

Cephlapod 5 shows David Gilhooly's interest in the sea. As a child, Gilhooly and his family lived for a time in the Virgin Islands and he dreamed of becoming a marine biologist. The artist believes that animals can evoke emotional responses without the viewer being aware of it. Cephalopods are an ancient group of marine mollusks that appeared millions of years before the first primitive fish began swimming in the ocean. Indeed, Cephlapod 5 looks slimy and repulsive, as though the primordial creature just crawled out of the sea.

Works by this artist (11 items)

Ralph Gibson, Untitled (Man with Beard, Closed Eyes, Tie), 1975, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.595, © Ralph Gibson
Untitled (Man with Beard, Closed Eyes, Tie)
Date1975
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Ralph Gibson, Untitled (Table Top with Water Glass and Salt Shaker), 1975, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.597, © Ralph Gibson
Untitled (Table Top with Water Glass and Salt Shaker)
Date1975
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Ralph Gibson, Untitled (Workshirt Front), 1975, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.599, © Ralph Gibson
Untitled (Workshirt Front)
Date1975
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Ralph Gibson, Untitled (Man's Face Wearing Hat and Sunglasses), 1975, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.603, © Ralph Gibson
Untitled (Man’s Face Wearing Hat and Sunglasses)
Date1975
gelatin silver print
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Bently
Dateca. 1975
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Untitled, ca. 1945-1950, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Lewis and Jean Greenblatt, 2002.86.9
Untitled
Dateca. 1945-1950
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Untitled, ca. 1945-1950, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Lewis and Jean Greenblatt, 2002.86.7
Untitled
Dateca. 1945-1950
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Jared French, Margaret French, PaJaMa, Paul Cadmus, PaJaMa (Box A), ca. 1937, gelatin silver prints, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Margaret French, 1999.98.5.16
PaJaMa (Box A)
Dateca. 1937
gelatin silver prints
Not on view