Object Details
- Luce Center Label
- David Gilhooly made his first ceramic frog during a friendly mug-making competition among classmates at the University of California–Davis. This inspired the artist to create a whole civilization composed entirely of frogs, ranging from Napoleon-inspired frog busts to frog-Egyptian gods. Gilhooly originally thought about making pigs, but decided not to, stating: "The trouble with making a PigWorld rather than the FrogWorld was that pigs are 'loaded.' That is, people have a lot of negative ideas that are attached to pigs...." In Merfrog and her Pet Fish, Gilhooly refers to one of his favorite themes, fertility, by creating an absurdly voluptuous frog surrounded by devoted singing companions. (Artist's website, www.davidgilhooly.com, January 2006)
- Data Source
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Artist
- David Gilhooly, born Auburn, CA 1943-died Newport, OR 2013
- Date
- 1979
- Credit Line
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Helen Williams Drutt English and H. Peter Stern in honor of the 35th anniversary of the Renwick Gallery
- Medium
- white earthenware and glazes
- Dimensions
- 7 x 6 x 7 3/8 in. (17.8 x 15.2 x 18.7 cm)
- Type
- Decorative Arts-Ceramic
- Crafts
