Poet of a Threatened Eden: Retrospective of works by Frank Hyder

On Saturday, March 26, Bill Lowe Gallery will present Poet of a Threatened Eden, featuring a landmark 35-year retrospective of works by American multi-disciplinary artist, Frank Hyder. Hyder is best known for his use of cinematic devices to create a mysterious, metaphysical reality of intense light and shade, where forms appear and dissolve, moving the viewer to dream with eyes open – to feel without touching, and to feel touched by the very experience of seeing. Hyder’s works depict a ceremonial reverence for nature, and function as reliquaries which facilitate emotional bonds to the natural world – a world that is often forgotten, ignored, and abused.

This retrospective focuses on works created from 1986 through 2022 and features Hyder’s hand-carved, scored, engraved and painted works on wood and other media, ranging in scale from monumental to intimate. Each functions as altar piece in organic cathedrals composed of the earth’s great forests, rivers and mountains – from the Americas to Europe and Africa. Hyder’s work is noted for its enigmatic light sources, which are achieved through dense layering of media that conveys the rich materiality and sensuality of the organic universe, and our spiritual connection to it.

Many of his projects incorporate organic materials such as wood that he carves and composes to explore the duality of man and nature. Pieces like his famous “Prophet Boxes” invite the viewer to open a latch and reveal other physical and metaphysical spaces.

“I am interested in creating dialogues with cultures and the shared experiences,” said Hyder. “My work is designed to open portals between all cultures; between all worlds.”

GRAND RE-OPENING
Poet of A Threatened Eden by Frank Hyder
Saturday, March 26th
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Frank Hyder The New World Box (Opened) Scored, Etched, Carved, and Acrylic Painted Wood 96 x 192 inches

Frank Hyder The New World Box (Closed) Scored, Etched, Carved and Acrylic Painted Wood 96 x 96