Rescue by Elizabeth Murray, 1996
“Rescue”, 1996
Elizabeth Murray
American, 1940-2007
Oil on canvas, wood (118″ x 136″ x 7″)
1. This piece is a painting of an upside down mug, among other abstract things. It is very large as well as geometric, and it is full of color. There are many layers of canvas that overlap each other, giving it a three-dimensional effect. When first looking at this painting, we thought it looked like an avocado, despite the description stating otherwise. The mug is depicted upside down, implying a world of chaos, relating back to the title “Rescue”. The piece is asymmetrical and abstract, whereas the mug is the only realistic item. Everything else is ambiguous.
2. This painting is on display in a study area on the first floor of the library. A majority of the painting is a variation of green tones. Green is known to be a calming color, which may help people relax while they study and allow them to focus. The room is large and plain, and this piece complements the space well. The walls and ceiling are high, and the large scale of the piece fits perfectly. This is also the only artwork in the room, but it is certainly enough to make the entire area more interesting. This might be why it was chosen to be displayed in the library, in this particular room.
-Alyssa Warych, Jessica Pinto, Anna Zhuk 
