A Trip to the Art Museum, or, What's Up with Mr. Dead Fish-on-the-Wall?

The Phoenix Public Library instituted a program about a year or so ago that allows patrons to check out a "Culture Pass," which allows up to four people free admission to a specific museum or venue.  The passes are only good for one week from check out, so it can be a bit tricky both finding the time to visit a venue, and also find an available pass; they are limited in number, as spread through all of the branches.  This past weekend, I decided to take advantage of the one available pass for the Phoenix Art Museum, and so Mr. X, the Short One and I all piled onto the Light Rail, and made our way downtown to get some culture.


Upon entering the museum, we found to our dismay that approximately half of the exhibits are closed for renovation, and will remain so until November.  This meant no American Art, European Art, Asian Art, or Miniature Rooms.  (The last nearly did the Short One in.)  So, what was left?  Well, we were able to wander the Modern Art wing, as well as the Costume/Textiles area.  As always, the costume exhibit - currently fashion from the home-front during WWII - was far too small.  I'll never understand why they devote such little space to such a fascinating collection.  Be that as it may, we explored the Fireflies, laughed at the prudish Mr. X's reactions to the nudes, and sighed over couture and Bakelite bangles.  All in all, an enjoyable visit.


But what about Mr. Dead Fish-on-the-Wall?  Just what is up with that?


Well, in addition to the few permanent exhibits that remain open, the Museum has in place a special exhibit on Paul Cézanne and his influence on American Modernism.  Now, Cézanne has never been a particular favorite of mine, and this exhibit has relatively few of his pieces.  Rather, there are one or two representative works for the various genres he explored (landscapes, figure studies, still-lifes), with the remainder of the exhibit made up of works in those various genres, by artists who were inspired by him.  It was an interesting exhibit, and one that does allow the viewer to see the direct correlation between master/inspiration, and student/inspired.


Truthfully, though, we almost sped through the entire exhibit, as Mr. X and the Short One were not overly impressed by what they saw, and I wasn't either.  The one area where we did spend comparatively more time was in the still-life section.  Unfortunately it was not awe and rapture over the talent on display that was expressed by certain members of our little group.  Instead, it was giggles and speculation on just what sort of, shall we say, recreational refreshments? were being enjoyed by certain artists.  When we came to the representative Cézanne, however, Mr. X and the Short One were compelled to remark that it was better than the rest of the works on display, and that they most enjoyed the texture that he had given to the crumbling wall behind the fruit and pitcher.  At that point, the Short One said, "That one part even looks like it's crumbling in the shape of a dead fish!"  at which point, I felt it necessary to point out that, it wasn't crumbling in the shape of a dead fish, it was a dead fish.


One would think that I had told them that there was a dead, naked lady on the wall, they both had such looks of horror.

"But, why would he put a dead fish there?!?"

"Well, it's sort of a traditional aspect of a still-life grouping."

"Eww!!  Why?!?!?"

Of course, after this, the Short One was on a quest to find a dead fish in every still-life in the exhibit.  Fortunately, I was able to distract her with the Fireflies.

But rest assured, she has not forgotten.  Just yesterday, she asked me a question about "that Suzanne guy.  You know, Mr. Dead Fish-on-the-Wall."