Dish c. 20th century

This 'Dish' at the Minneapolis Institute of Art by Ron Meyers, is, well, a dish. It’s not dated, but it's got that folksy, handmade feel. It’s all about process. The surface is layered with color, see how the earthy tones bleed into the blues and greens of the animal's face? The paint looks almost translucent in places, like washes of watercolor. The texture is smooth in areas, but elsewhere you can see the marks of the brush, or maybe even a finger. It’s like Meyers wanted to leave a trace of his hand, a record of the making. Look at the way he's rendered the eyes of the animal with the red dots, giving it this intense, almost wild, stare. Meyers really reminds me of Elizabeth Murray, in the way he takes something ordinary and turns it into this vibrant, quirky thing. It's art that doesn't take itself too seriously, and that's always refreshing.