Taking advantage of our rotating exhibits, FWMoA staff from all departments are interacting with captivating art. With galleries full of glass, paintings, bronzes, and more, we’ve posed the challenging question, “What’s your favorite artwork currently on display?”
Isabel Kern, our Development Associate, gives us her take on a favorite piece in the permanent collection, Germinate, by Robin Grebe. She gives us her interpretation of this glass piece and why it holds a special place for her among our works.
Q: What is the first thing you noticed about this artwork? What drew you to this particular piece?
A: I am drawn to this piece’s shape initially, the gentle, willowy curve of the figure’s posture, as if she is moving with the wind. Despite being made of a heavy and fragile material, the artist’s skill makes it appear supple and flexible. The predominant earthy green and brown color scheme also appeals to me, as well as the questioning expression on the figure’s face.
Q: Would you display this artwork in your home? Why or why not?
A: Absolutely! If I could place this artwork in my home, she would stand near my front door to welcome guests.
Q: What does this artwork mean to you?
A: Out of all the glass in the permanent collection, this one is the most resonant for me because I see bits of my own interior journey with creativity, hope, and the perennial question, “How do you live?” amidst the sorrows and the heavy weight of the world in constant motion. The figure’s chest is hollow, but not empty, as bare trees with deep roots wave their branches and birds swoop among them, a scene that looks like early spring but feels more indicative of the state of the figure’s soul. In my own reflections on life and creativity, I feel that this kind of cycle–of bare trees and germinating seeds, loss and rebirth, losing hope and finding it again–is a beautiful part of the human experience.
Q: Why did you choose to work in an art museum?
A: Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to work with art in some way. As one of many siblings, art was the way I differentiated myself as an individual and expressed my inner world. As I got older, it became my refuge from the hardness of the world, and as I continue to grow creatively, it has become a window into other people’s experiences, a way to communicate with others through the language of symbols and emotions and yet remains a safe place to rest for me. I decided that I wanted to work in an art museum because I want to support other people in experiencing these things with art.
Q: What kind of art do you have in your home?
A: Stylistically, I love color and light, and Impressionist prints fit that bill really well. My favorite print that I have is what I would call my first acquisition, and it’s a print of Mary Cassatt’s, “Breakfast in Bed” from a calendar my family had when I was around 5 or 6. I loved it so much that my aunt had it professionally framed for me. To this day it’s my favorite artwork that I have in my home.
Q: What has been your favorite exhibition at FWMoA during your employment? What exhibition are you most looking forward to in the next year or two?
A: My favorite exhibit was, The Paintings of Gabriela Gonzalez Dellosso: A Retrospective, back in April-June of last year. There was a work in particular, “The Burning of Adélaïde Labille-Guiard’s Masterpiece,” that stopped me in my tracks. I’m really looking forward to this year’s Dia de los Muertos exhibit!
To see Germinate by Robin Grebe and other glass works, visit the Glass Wing during your next visit to FWMoA!