Art is not only an unparalleled vehicle for self-expression but for silent revolution.
It provides us with an opportunity to quietly examine our individual thoughts, reactions and beliefs about being human. Perhaps more importantly, art represents the power of transformation from the inside out, not solely for the artist but for those who appreciate art as well.
Painter Beth Myers, originally from Athens Georgia and now residing at Lakeside, clearly embodies what art makes possible. She recalls having made art from her earliest days when she was first able to pick up a crayon. Her mother brought home rolls of newsprint so she could quietly draw with all of the rainbow of colors at her disposal while other kids engaged in more typical play. By high school she was entering her work in art competitions but eventually concluded that it was “safer” not to major in art, and instead pursued studies in journalism and photography.
Myers describes her paintings as a personal diary that helps her explore and process her own inner world away from the judgment of those nearest her. She often starts by painting words or lyrics on the canvas that eventually become hidden by layers of images. Now and again, one or two words may continue to appear at the surface of the finished work, revealing only as much as the artist wishes for the viewer to see.
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