Szechwan Serenity

J. Paul Fennell, Szechwan Serenity, 2013, African sumac, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Jeffrey Bernstein, M.D. and Judith Chernoff, M.D., 2021.66.15
J. Paul Fennell, Szechwan Serenity, 2013, African sumac, 11 × 9 × 9 in. (27.9 × 22.9 × 22.9 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Jeffrey Bernstein, M.D. and Judith Chernoff, M.D., 2021.66.15

Artwork Details

Title
Szechwan Serenity
Date
2013
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
11 × 9 × 9 in. (27.9 × 22.9 × 22.9 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Jeffrey Bernstein, M.D. and Judith Chernoff, M.D.
Mediums
Mediums Description
African sumac
Classifications
Object Number
2021.66.15

Artwork Description

J. Paul Fennell turned to wood art while working for the fast-paced Apollo program at NASA. Szechwan Serenity work translates his impressions of the latticework of Buddhist temples on Mount Emei, the highest of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China.


Fennell’s work is a mixture of turning, carving, and piercing. He creates his own tools to achieve his visions, noting, “I like the particular challenge of doing things no standard tools allow you to do. If I develop one, it may be used once or twice—but the idea of innovation appeals to me.”


This Present Moment: Crafting a Better World, 2022

Works by this artist (47 items)

Camilo José Vergara, 65 East 125th Street, Harlem, 2016, inkjet print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center, 2017.6, © 2016, Camilo J. Vergara
65 East 125th Street, Harlem
Date2016
inkjet print
Not on view
Camilo José Vergara, 65 East 125th Street, Harlem, 2009, inkjet print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center, 2015.44.21, © 2009, Camilo José Vergara
65 East 125th Street, Harlem
Date2009
inkjet print
Not on view
Camilo José Vergara, 65 East 125th Street, Harlem, 2004, inkjet print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center, 2015.44.19, © 2004, Camilo José Vergara
65 East 125th Street, Harlem
Date2004
inkjet print
Not on view
Camilo José Vergara, 65 East 125th Street, Harlem, 1998, inkjet print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center, 2015.44.15, © 1998, Camilo José Vergara
65 East 125th Street, Harlem
Date1998
inkjet print
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Welmon Sharlhorne, Untitled (Building with Recessed Entrance and Black Foreground), ca. 1992, ink on manila envelope, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.135
Untitled (Building with Recessed Entrance and Black…
Dateca. 1992
ink on manila envelope
Not on view
Andrea Way, Bones, 1987, ink on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Tom and Judy Brody, 2009.38.3, © 1987, Andrea Way
Bones
Date1987
ink on paper
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Bearded Man, ca. 1935, pen and ink on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.378
Bearded Man
Dateca. 1935
pen and ink on paper
Not on view
Welmon Sharlhorne, Bus, ca. 1992, ink on manila envelope, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.134
Bus
Dateca. 1992
ink on manila envelope
Not on view