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Today at the Museum

June 20, 2013

Third Thursday: Get Local

6 – 9 p.m.
museum-wide

TUNE IN to our new music partnership with 89.3 The Current at the debut of "Local Current Live at Third Thursday" with DJ David Campbell. HEAR LOCAL band more »

Vessel
Title:Vessel
Artist:Nazca
Date:100 B.C.-600 A.D.
Creation Place:South America, Peru, Andean region
Credit Line:The Ethel Morrison Van Derlip Fund
Accession Number:44.3.59
Nazca artists are known for their bold, colorful designs. Although they were acute observers of the world around them and depicted many plants and animals in their work, they seemed concerned less with naturalism than with capturing the spirit and liveliness of their subject matter. This fish is highly stylized, with scales suggested by brush strokes, and gills through sweeping lines. It is rounded and fat, attesting to flush times and an abundance of food. Fish were a key component of the Nazca diet and were often shown in their art.