Beverly Fishman
United States, born 1955
Untitled (Missing Doses, 3 Opioid Addiction, 1 ADHD), 2018
Urethane paint on wood
42 ½ x 40 ½ in. diameter
Weatherspoon Art Museum. Museum purchase with funds from the Lynn Richardson Prickett Acquisition Endowment and the Burlington Industries Endowment, 2019
Untitled (Missing Doses, 3 Opioid Addiction, 1 ADHD)’s title and formal elements relate to the pharmaceutical industry. The wood surfaces are milled according to the shapes of different pills, complete with their scored indentations for splitting doses. These forms are then assembled together to create wholly new shapes. Fishman assigns the panels vibrant colors applied in eye-popping high-finish automotive enamel, so bright in fact, that the hues are reflected on the gallery wall. Although the artist recognizes that medications can help people tremendously, Fishman is concerned with our cultural desire for quick fixes. She is wary of the marketing of prescription drugs and the ease with which they are obtained—especially in the context of the current opioid crisis.
© Beverly Fishman. Image courtesy of the artist and Miles McEnery Gallery, New York, NY.