Three Cherries 2000

Mary Fedden made this joyful still life, “Three Cherries,” in 1999, likely with oils on canvas or board. Look at the way she's gone at it, so directly. It's the work of someone who knows their mind, but still isn't afraid to let the paint do its thing. The surface has got this lovely, chalky texture, and the colors are, dare I say, yummy. That orange slice, heavy with seeds, just glows against the cool whites and pinks of the cherries. It's all so matter-of-fact, yet strangely dreamy. It feels like you could just reach out and grab one. Notice the single, confident stroke that defines the edge of the table. It's like she's saying, "Here it is, folks, simple as can be." It reminds me of those Matisse interiors, where the everyday becomes extraordinary through color and touch. Fedden, like Matisse, invites us to see the world anew, one brushstroke at a time.