On any given day, artist Gail Fisher can be found riding around New Hope and Lambertville in her bright yellow Mini Cooper six-speed sports car with four-legged best friend Sal-lee by her side.
A sticker on the car door reads, “My dog is my co-pilot,” and her license plate says simply “ITS GAIL.”
At 88, she’s got more energy than half of the people I know and is considerably more fun, too. She has survived cancer four times and attributes these victories to her endless positivity and “joie de vivre.” She’s always dressed in bright colors and unique designs and is currently wearing a green streak and butterflies in her hair to usher in the arrival of spring asap.
Born the only daughter and last of three children, Gail was a “spoiled rotten little blonde girl with an infectious smile who loved dogs and cats.” She would often bring strays home, hide them in her basement, and give them her food when mom and dad weren’t looking, which worked pretty well until one of the cats had a litter of kittens and that was the end of that.
Gail is a huge animal advocate and has rescued more than 100 animals during her lifetime. Many of their memorial plaques sit under the big beautiful maple tree in her backyard. Her current companion Sal-lee is a spoiled, full figured American Bulldog rescue with sad brown eyes who gets all her affection.
Gail thinks we should all be more like animals. “They feel pain, love, compassion…and they always stick by their buddies. It’s all gotten lost somewhere along the line. We’ve lost our perspective.”
Gail began taking art courses in her 30s, but she is primarily self-taught. She favors abstract and colorful art and is highly skilled in alcohol ink, pencil, photography, handmade paper art, and jewelry design. I had the pleasure of an interview with her over dinner one night.
What kind of artist are you?
“Eclectic – because I have shpilkis (that’s Yiddish for ‘ants in the pants’).”
Why do you love color so much?
“It’s bright and cheerful. It makes my insides light up.”
What inspires your artwork?
“I’m very intuitive. I’m not inspired by a place or thing, I just do it from my head.”
What’s your favorite food?
Japanese.
(Ota-ya in Lambertville to be specific. She has been a regular there for 30 years and they call her MiniKama, which means “little grandmother”).
What’s wrong with the world?
“People. They want too much power, not relationships. Nothing to help the other person. Not life ‘as it is.’ That’s why we have so many wars…”
What’s next for you?
“I don’t look at the future. I take each day as it comes.”
So come out and join us in celebrating a local treasure. See her unique style and uplifting works of art. Hear some great music courtesy of her very talented grandson and jazz musician Cool Josh. Meet new people. Have a drink or a delicious snack. Be part of something special in honor of someone you don’t know. There are no strangers, only friends you haven’t met yet.
Gail can’t wait to meet you.
The Meet the Artist reception for the Spring Art Show featuring art by Gail Fisher and photography by Stephen Harris will be held from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at the Green Building Center, 67 Bridge St., Lambertville, N.J.
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