Artwork copyright dick ibach. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1986.

how to catch a fish in a fish hatchery, 1984

dick ibach
(American | German, born 1940, died 2021)

Location: River Homelink School, Battle Ground

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Artist dick ibach composed the painting how to catch a fish in a fish hatchery using bright colors, energetic brush marks, and an unusual point of view. You can see three figures standing at the edge of a pool filled with fish. Look more closely and you can see a fishing line coming out of each pant leg. Describing his inspiration for this piece, the artist said simply "this work is a celebration of the time we dropped fish hook and line down our pant leg through our pockets and caught fish."

Many of ibach's paintings are based on memories and filled with humor. In his own words: “The humor of these works is simply a wonderful excuse to exaggerate, through a child-like use of form and color, those memories that continue to exist regardless of all the competing events of now.”

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Battle Ground School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Spokane, Eastern Washington-based artist dick ibach (1940-2021) created paintings that combine figurative imagery with expressive forms, symbolism, and intense patterning. His art is humorous and often based on his memories: "It is my intention to speak of the contradictions of the human condition: to address both the nobility and stupidity of it all." He believes that the viewer must develop a “visual literacy” and not expect explanations, because “Artists are visual and their imagery is visual… Words are for poets.”

ibach was born and grew up in Yakima, Central Washington. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Seattle University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, in 1972. He taught art at Spokane Falls Community College for over fifteen years. In addition to teaching, he was a Jesuit brother for ten years during the 1960s and he worked many odd jobs such as a hospital orderly, sod buster, cattle brander, grave digger, and cabinet maker. These experiences shaped his point of view as an artist.