David Kimball Anderson

American, b. 1946

Mermaid, Kelp Heart
2000

Fiberglas, resin, and kelp
76 x 24 x 24 in. (193.04 x 60.96 x 60.96 cm)
Gift of Fredrick Q. Lawson
2002.30

The vision: Imagine you are walking along the shore at water’s edge. You notice movement in the water, near rocks. Your attention sharpens. You suddenly become aware that you are looking at an extraordinarily beautiful Japanese woman lying on her back just under the surface. She is looking at you. But the very moment you make eye contact with her she swims quickly away. As she does, she effortlessly slides out of her translucent gossamer-like robe. In an instant she is gone, deep. Stunned, you very carefully take the robe from the water. It dries. It is fragile. It has a kelp heart. You care for her robe and her ocean forever. I made MERMAID, KELP HEART, in 2000, three years after moving from high-altitude desert to sea level oceanside.”
– David Kimball Anderson

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This object was included in the following exhibitions:

• ReImagine|ARTsySTEM: Expanding Ideas of Artistic Response to Environment , 6/9/2015 - 7/23/2015
• The Day After Tomorrow; Art in Response to Turmoil and Hope Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art , 7/1/2020 - 12/19/2020