Fruit on a Table

Artist Peter Gilleran (American, 1927-2007)

Date1957

MediumOil on panel

Dimensions30 1/4 × 48 1/2 in. (76.8 × 123.2 cm)

ClassificationsPainting

Object numberUAC302

DescriptionPeter Gilleran was a father, husband, teacher, and an artist. A native of Detroit, he graduated from Cass Technical High School in 1939 before earning his Bachelor of Arts at Colorado College in 1948 and his Masters of Fine Arts degree from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1950. In addition to his college accolades, Gilleran served as a draftsman for the Army during World War ll in India and China. He was said to be a quiet man with a quick sense of humor, in addition to being a very prolific and passionate artist.

The legacy he left with his life impacted the community of Wayne State students that he taught as well as his children, who both grew up to become artists. In an essay by Jim Pallas about Gilleran, he talked about a conversation they once had, "To become an artist one has to make the choice: a life of creative productivity or the pursuit of wealth, job security and all the rest. When I was wrestling with this decision, Mr. Gilleran said: "Imagine you live on an island and have everything you need. You are making art. God appears before you and says, "Make all the art you wish, but when you die, I will sink the island and no one will ever know of you or your work." He said "The question is this: would you continue to make art?" His question somehow made the decision easy for me; only later did I understand why."

The act of painting contrasts our modern world. Painting takes time, layers upon layers, and a certain amount of sensitivity and attentiveness to the work, whether you are a classical portrait painter or an abstract expressionist. In the age of technology, the act of painting is almost counter cultural. Gilleran's painting Fruit on a Table is a strong example of the dedication he had to his craft, exploring different modernist painting styles such as fauvism, pointillism, abstract expressionism, and cubism. The use of color in this piece show undertones of fauvism, and the mark-making shows the influence of post-impressionist paintings.

Text by Emily Lane Borden

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