A collection of paintings by Grand Valley State University art and design professor Tim Fisher is now on display at the Art Gallery located in the Performing Arts Center.

Fisher’s exhibit, titled “American Cuisine,” features some never-before-seen works. The theme of food and community tie the paintings together in this show.

“I like to open the fall semester with a show that features one of our own,” said Henry Matthews, director of Galleries and Collections for GVSU Art Gallery. “Tim Fisher is a very good painter.”

Matthews said that he invited Fisher to display this work two years ago. Fisher accepted and started on some new pieces for the show. This collection of nine pieces opened on Aug. 26.

“I decide what exhibition is going to be in the gallery, he decided what paintings we would show and the theme of the collection,” Matthews said

Fisher used food in as a component in every painting. One painting is of a typical kitchen with ingredients of a meal spread around two people.

According to the art and design department, these painting depict subjects in their natural setting cooking food that exemplifies their geographical and economic position. Fisher focused on the working-class west side of Grand Rapids for some of his works, showcasing small, cramped kitchens filled with basic and inexpensive ingredients.

In every corner of the large paintings, there is a figure or object that one wouldn’t expect.

The painting titled “Delicious” depicts an outdoor collection of fruit, vegetables and animals, but on close inspection, a piece of pizza, a hamburger and an order of McDonald’s French fries sit innocently on the edges of the work.

In another painting, “Limbo,” figures representing God and the devil sit on a couch together. Red tones highlight the side of the room where the devil sits and light blue paint defines God’s side. A snake is wrapped around a house plant next to the devil and two rabbits stare up at God.

Although food binds these paintings together on the surface, tones of economics, religion, diversity and social order hide behind the colorful scenes of blue skies and green trees.

“I’m not an art student, but I enjoyed the show,” said Steffen Carlisle, a senior biology student at GVSU. “I think it’s cool that Grand Valley has this place, even if it’s just to kill some time.”

Fisher earned his M.F.A. in studio drawing from the University of Cincinnati and both an M.A. and B.F.A. from Central Washington University.

Before Fisher came to GVSU, he taught at the Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids.

This exhibit will be on display in the Art Gallery until Oct. 6, when “Atre Argentino Actual/Contemporary Argentine Art” replaces it. Fisher’s work will be displayed individually throughout the school in the future.

All exhibits at the Art Gallery are free and open to the public.

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