About the Arts
Sean Beavers - Hand in Hand - a collaboration
By Rose Safran
CONCORD, N.H. - At Ogunquit's Barn Gallery, area resident Bobbie Beavers more than once mentioned her son, Sean Beavers, to me, suggesting that I visit his York studio.This writer assumed it was another mother boasting about her artist son. Sure, I listened. But I didn't act.
Then, one day, I wandered into an Ogunquit Art Association exhibit and spotted a small still life arrangement of fruit, a work so technically sound, so exquisitely rendered, reflecting such skill and knowledge of form, line and color that everything near it paled in comparison. Such was my introduction to the art of this talented young man. Subsequently, Sean Beavers' paintings were included in a George Marshall Gallery Store exhibit and my first impression was confirmed by not only by his obvious ability to paint, but also by the consistent excellence of his oeuvre.
Now, there's another experience available, a broadened and unusual one in Concord at the Anderson-Soule Gallery, where Sean Beavers is exhibiting, not only his own fine art, but also that created by his wife, Sydney Bella Sparrow, as well as paintings in which both collaborated.
Rather than examine differences and similarities between the work of these two artists whose styles are similar, yet not exactly the same, it seems preferable to discuss what's there, for it's all excellent. Most of their paintings, whether individually or in unison, are oil on canvas, most are small scale, most have a three-dimensional quality harking back to "tromp d'oeil" style. Many depict various forms of fruit still life with round forms frequently set against rhythmic formalized grids, most show a remarkable ability to make color contrast work especially hard, to play the brilliant and vibrant against the soft and subtle, great depth the ultimate achievement.
In the collaborative work in which both artists work on the same painting, there is no way to tell who did what, who began or who finished areas. Say the artists, "This is our first showing of our collaborative work and we chose the over-arcing theme of objects presented in pairs, partnerships, or within the notion and setting of love and a shared world."
Among the collaborative works, in "Let Forever Be," two brownish-painted heart-shaped locks chained together literally jump off the background of their white-brush-painted canvas. In "Comet's Crib," two blue eggs in a bird's brown-toned nest touch each other. In "Heart's Reflection," two calla lilies are intertwined, forming a heart. In "Hand in Hand" his and hers arms overlap, with hands grasped, linked, hers seemingly resting in his larger one. Gentle togetherness.
Among the individual works, Sean's "Morpho's Gate" is a three-dimensional sapphire blue triumph in which a brilliant iridescent butterfly stands out against, yet seems stuck to, a soft brown multi-patterned latticed window form. In his "Pyrus Pyramid," realistic simplicity is achieved through three juicy green pear forms arranged in a triangle and resting on a horizontal platform or table. In one of the larger works in the exhibit, "Anjou Evening" a gigantic angled rock outcropping arrests the viewer, jutting out from a canvas background of horizontal sea and equally horizontal glowing sky; the striking giant is topped with a three-unit pear formation, grouped as a silent family surveying the universe. In "Evening Voluta," Sean's encased conch shell is set against a seascape.
Among Sydney Bella Sparrow's works, an especially notable one depicts a square-form of four rounded orange persimmons in a soft brown background. At a recent visit, we were told that collectors of Sean Beavers' art, now want to own some of Sydney Bella Sparrow's. Understandable.
The Anderson-Soule Gallery is only four years old. Its owner, Trish Soule, has a fine sense of presentation, combining paintings such as the aforementioned with sculptures such as Sumner Winebaum's. The gallery look is spacious granting the paintings, sculptures and fine furnishings ample air.
The current exhibits will remain on view through Oct. 7. The address is Two Capital Plaza, Concord, N.H. For further information, call (603) 228-3800.
