Devotees of architect Frank O. Gehry will have a rare opportunity to view a jewel-like exhibit at The Jewish Museum of a select group of eight highly unusual fish lamps that the internationally acclaimed architect designed between 1984-1986 for the Formica Corporation. The company’s request to Gehry was to experiment with a new laminate product called ColorCore. In the R&D phase, Gehry broke a piece of shard that was shaped like a fish reminiscent of his childhood fascination with fishes. Ergo, fish lamps.
Fish Lamp, 1984
Wood, wire, light, ColorCore, glass marbles.
Collection Jasper Johns.
Photograph by John Lund.
Whimsical, playful, and sculptural, blending idea with material elements indicative of Gehry’s creative genius, his interest in forms and shapes of fish stems from his excursions with his grandmother to the Jewish market in Toronto were she purchased a black carp for gefilte fish. Placed in a bathtub filled with water, Gehry happily played with the swimming fish representing the first embodiment of his later desire to create motion in architecture.
Fish Lamp, c.1983
ColorCore, wood, silicone
Made by New City Editions, Venice, California,
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Gift of Marion Stroud Swingle, 2008.
Fish Lamp, 1990
Glass and silicone with glass and wood base.
The Jewish Museum, New York:
Purchase: The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation Fund and Ruth Rose Fund.
Accompanied by a slide show presenting an overview of how the fish form changed from iconic symbol to transformative object in Gehry’s architectural vision. The exhibit includes a Gehry designed glass lamp (1990) from the Museum’s collection. Catch the exhibit for a special treat. On view through October 31, 2010. http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/ or (212) 423-3200.
