Fern

Cleo Hartwig, Fern, 1981, stone, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Albert Glinsky, 1984.43
Cleo Hartwig, Fern, 1981, stone, 15 348 346 14 in. (40.022.215.9 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Albert Glinsky, 1984.43

Artwork Details

Title
Fern
Artist
Date
1981
Dimensions
15 348 346 14 in. (40.022.215.9 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Albert Glinsky
Mediums
Mediums Description
stone
Classifications
Subjects
  • Object — foliage — fern
Object Number
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 (5 items)

John Alexander, The Cake Walk, 1985, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James F. Dicke Family, 2014.11.1
The Cake Walk
Date1985
oil on canvas
Not on view
Welcome to My World
Date1982
watercolor and gouache on heavy off-white paper
Not on view
John Alexander, Conversations with a Spider, 1980, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift from the Trustees of the Corcoran Gallery of Art ( Museum purchase, William A. Clark Fund), 2020.20.5
Conversations with a Spider
Date1980
oil on canvas
Not on view
John Alexander, Living Your Life in a Goldfish Bowl, 1985, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of United Stationers, Inc., 1995.70.1
Living Your Life in a Goldfish Bowl
Date1985
oil on canvas
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

James F. Dicke II, Untitled #48, 2009, mixed media on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Marsha Ralls, 2010.19.1, © 2009, James F. Dicke II
Untitled #48
Date2009
mixed media on canvas
On view
Residual Series: Weak Heart, Strong Lungs
Date2018
ink, charcoal, acrylic, spray paint, enamel, oil, metal dust and pine needles on canvas
Not on view
Alexis Rockman, Gymnorhamphichthys bogardusae, 2001, oil on wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of William and Maria Spears, 2019.58
Gymnorhamphichthys bogardusae
Date2001
oil on wood
Not on view
Gregory Amenoff, Swale, 2007, oil on panel, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James F. Dicke Family, 2014.12.2, © 2007, Gregory Amenoff
Swale
Date2007
oil on panel
Not on view