Al Beyer: Landscapes
Installation view of Al Beyer: Landscapes the Main Gallery at GHIA, 2017
On view in the Main Gallery June 23 - August 4, 2017
A professor of art at the University of South Carolina Aiken for over 30 years, Al Beyer (1947-2023) earned many prestigious awards for his paintings, which were exhibited widely across the country and are included in both public and private art collections. He earned his BA degree from Columbia University in NY, and continued his education at the University of Arizona where he earned his MFA. Beyer's teaching experiences began in Alabama and brought him to SC in 1981, where he has challenged and inspired many artists in SC.
The exhibition features large-scale realistic oil paintings inspired by his daily walks. With the largest painting being nearly seven feet long, Beyer draws the viewer into each scene through detailed textures and shades of light. He describes his choices in composition as “ordinary slices of life” rather than “scenic overlooks”, which aim to put the viewer within the scene amongst the individual leaves, blades of grass, and details. Beyer explained artistically, the landscapes display different influences that range from Dutch Baroque to Jackson Pollock. He often spent several weeks mapping out the compositions and executes each section, no larger than eight by eight, in a three-to-four hour sitting.
An opening reception and artist talk was held June 23, 2017 from 6-8 pm in the Main Gallery.
Click on the photos below for the full view.
