Brian Fisher Print, Paint and Sculpture Blog

"Europa"   Monoprint,  21 x 21 in. The Roman poet Ovid wrote of Europa’s seduction by Zeus- And gradually she lost her fear, and he Offered his breast for her virgin caresses, His horns for her to wind with chains of flowers Until the princess dared to mount his back Her pet bull's back, unwitting whom she rode. Then—slowly, slowly down the broad, dry beach— First in the shallow waves the great god set His spurious hooves, then sauntered further out Till in the open sea he bore his prize Fear filled her heart as, gazing back, she saw The fast receding sands. Her right hand grasped A horn, the other lent upon his back Her fluttering tunic floated in the breeze. "Europa" is one of many new prints and paintings on display in my solo show at the Hardware Store Restaurant Gallery August 3 thru September 5 with the opening reception August 3 at 6pm.

The Shield of Achilles ,  Monoprint, (29 3/4" x 19 1/2") The Shield Of Achilles by W. H. Auden She looked over his shoulder 
for ritual pieties, 
white flower-garlanded heifers, 
libation and sacrifice, 
but there on the shining metal 
where the altar should have been, 
she saw by his flickering forge-light 
quite another scene. Barbed wire enclosed an arbitrary spot 
where bored officials lounged (one cracked a joke) 
and sentries sweated for the day was hot:  a crowd of ordinary decent folk 
watched from without and neither moved nor spoke 
as three pale figures were led forth and bound 
to three posts driven upright in the ground. 

 The mass and majesty of this world, all 
that carries weight and always weighs the same 
lay in the hands of others; they were small 
and could not hope for help and no help came: 
what their foes like to do was done, their shame 
was all the worst could wish; they lost their pride 
and died as men before their bodies died. She l

Northwind Art Center in Port Townsend WA is hosting an exhibit of fine art prints this month (July 6-29). The show called “The Printmakers Hand” was juried by Sam Davidson of Davidson Galleries, Seattle WA and sponsored by Port Townsend printmakers guild Corvidae Press .   I was pleased to have Amphora Asterion , a Monoprint from my Asterion series, selected to hang in “The Printmaker’s Hand II”. Amphora Asterion was created using paper stencils, Collograph and by printing dry pigment into wet ink.  I am often inspired by Greek Black and Red amphora painting.  This new print was the first of many exploring amphora shapes as backgrounds and subjects.

Poem By Kay Ryan I marveled at how generally I was aided, " the autobiography of Charles Darwin" 
 I marvel at how generally I am aided, how frequently the availability of help is demonstrated. I’ve had unbridgeable distances collapse and opposite objects coalesce enough to think duress itself may be a prayer. Perhaps not chance, but need selects; and desperation works upon giraffes until their necks can reach the necessary branch. If so, help alters; makes seven vertebrae go farther in the living generation; help coming from us, not from the fathers not to the children. Bless Kay Ryan and her words. She so aptly describes our evolution and also the reach that exceeds the grasp that is creative process.  For the past two months I have been attempting to churn ideas and stories into image.  Above are prints in process.

The 22nd Annual Vashon Island Garden Tour, Saturday June 23, and Sunday, June 24, 10 am to 5 pm, is an offering of five unique gardens with features that will delight your senses.  Read all about the tour here: Vashon Garden Tour. I will be showing and selling my art cards and cut steel “Threshold Guardians,” garden art personifying myth and boundaries, at the Garden Art Market during the tour.  The image above featuring Zeus as a black swan is a sample of my “Guardian” garden stakes. The Garden Art Market is open to the public 10 am to 5 pm both Saturday and Sunday.  You will find the market conveniently located mid island on Vashon Hwy. and on the former K2 building front lawn.  The Garden Market will feature 20 artists, food and musical entertainment.  I will see you there rain or shine!

  The Seattle Erotic Arts Festival opens tomorrow (June 16-24)!  My Monoprint  Asterion was selected to hang in the show.  I entered three images and was delighted to have one accepted after hearing over 2000 images were juried.This is their tenth anniversary gala event and second year in the Fremont  location.  Here is a link with all the details.  http://www.seattleerotic.org/festival2012/  Opening day of the Seattle Erotic Arts Festival coincides with the Fremont Fair and parade and ends the following weekend with Seattle Pride celebrations and parade.  I can’t wait to check out the Erotic Art and all the art the Fremont Fair has to offer!

"Taming Bucephalus"   Oil on Canvas (22 x 22 in.) I hung 15 prints and paintings at La Medusa early this week.  I love the name La Medusa!  What poetry and illusion to Gorgon mysteries.  I can only hope that my work is also received as poetry in this wonderful eatery! La Medusa is located at 4857 Rainier Avenue South in Seattle Washington and serves incredible tastes of Sicilian, Italian food.  The restaurant is beautiful, the staff friendly and ones entire experience is just what "dining out" should be about. Columbia City, La Medusa's home, is a magical mix of cultures, of the now and yesterday and well worth a visit at any time of day. My show at La Medusa hangs until July 30. View my work and enjoy this wonderful restaurant.