Brian Fisher

Brian has lived and made art on Vashon Island, Washington, since 1989.  He shows locally, regionally and has for many years exhibited with Roby King Gallery of Bainbridge Island Washington.  Brian has a long association with Vashon’s local print cooperative, Quartermaster Press, having first joined in 1997.  He is the past president of VIVA, Vashon Island Visual Artists, and a founding member of the coop, Swiftwater Gallery, on Vashon Island.  

ARTIST STATEMENT

My art has its origin in story. It is the story and research around its’ subject, that inspires and is with me, as I make images.  The narrative may be personally relevant, but often falls within the realm of classical myth. Those potent myths encompass how our world came to be, how we fit within this world and what happens when we are no longer physically of this world.  “All the art I make, print, oil on canvas, even my three-dimensional work, is informed or inspired by those stories and the interpretative process of printmaking.” 

For the past several years I have explored angel mythologies and how angel stories evolved.  The body of work on exhibit at Vashon Center for the Arts reflects that ongoing interest. The word "angel" comes from the Greek word "anglos", which means "messenger" in Hebrew. Within the traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, angels have functioned predominantly as God's messengers. However, canonical scripture provided sparse descriptions of angels, so they have had to adapt to humankinds’ imagination, grow wings, adopt halos, and take on a myriad of responsibilities.  European art and writing, 4^th through 14^th centuries, saw an exponential exploration and definition of angel relationship to God, to one another and humankind. In contemporary society they function more as guardians and today the word "angel" has come to describe a hero or benefactor.