Laura Beard: Acoustic Shadow by Bruno David Gallery

L AUR A B EA R D Acoustic Shadow

bruno david gallery

Laura Beard Acoustic Shadow

April 13- June 2, 2018 Bruno David Gallery 7513 Forsyth Boulevard Saint Louis, Missouri 63105, U.S.A. info@brunodavidgallery.com www.brunodavidgallery.com Owner/Director: Bruno L. David This catalogue was published in conjunction with the exhibition “Laura Beard: Acoustic Shadow” at Bruno David Gallery. Editor: Bruno L. David Catalogue Designer: Lauren R. Mann and Christina Lu Designer Assistant: Claudia R. David Printed in USA All works courtesy of Laura Beard and Bruno David Gallery Photographs by Bruno David Gallery Cover image: Acoustic Shadow Black, 2017 Oil, wax on canvas 36 x 48 inches (91.4 x 121.9 cm) First Edition Copyright © 2018 Bruno David Gallery All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of Bruno David Gallery

CONTENTS

INTERVIEW BY BRUNO L. DAVID AFTERWORD BY BRUNO L. DAVID CHECKLIST AND IMAGES OF THE EXHIBITION BIOGRAPHY

INTERVIEW WITH LAURA BEARD AND BRUNO L. DAVID

Bruno L. David: Tell me about the concept of your paintings in Acoustic Shadow? Laura Beard: The new paintings in this exhibition are inspired by the acoustic shadow phenomenon that was first noticed during the Civil War. Acoustic shadow is where sound goes to die. It is in reference to areas where sounds, from a certain direction and on a given day will not penetrate. The acoustic phenomena occur either because the sound waves are absorbed, refracted or simply blown in a different direction. The acoustic shadow experience is generally relatively unnoticed in our modern world as we are surrounded by sounds. David: Where did you first learn about acoustic shadow and the way sound can travel? Beard: I read a lot about the Civil War and watch documentary after documentary. Thus, I came across the description of their experience of the way sound can travel. Information, as the historian Charles Ross has said, was found at battlefront status, was discerned simply by listening. The sound of battle was often the quickest and most efficient method by which a commander could judge the course of that battle. Troop dispositions were often made based on the relative intensity of the sounds from different locations. Therefore, if a commander was unable to hear fighting sounds, for whatever reason, he was effectively isolated from the conflict. Knowing that acoustic shadows interfered with command decisions during several major Civil War battles, some believe you could go as far as to say that acoustic shadows determined the course of the war. David: Regarding the Civil War. Why in 2018 should we be concerned or interested in it? Why is this relevant in our contemporary society?

Beard: I am so glad you asked that question. The acoustic shadow phenomenon has always existed; it was first experienced during the Civil War battles because of the use of modern weapons. Modern weapons changed the sound of war forever. It was unbelievably loud and the unpredictable nature of sound was experienced. In the 19th century, people would go and picnic and watch the battle. They experienced acoustical shadows as they could see the soldiers in the front lines but they couldn’t hear them, and they could see the soldiers in the back lines but they could hear them. Most of us are shocked when we hear of civilians watching a battle while they picnic. The irony is we are still doing the same thing when we sit down in front of the TV to watch “Apocalypse Now” while we eat dinner. Once again, it appears that part of being human is our voyeuristic need of watching war and violence. And I think this is tremendously relevant. The terrible tragedy that occurred in October 2017 (I think that is the date) in Las Vegas is another example of the acoustic shadow phenomenon. When the killer started shooting out of a window of Mandalay Bay, the victims and first responders couldn’t tell where the shots were coming from. Once again, humans show a deeply genetically embedded desire to kill. We are in the 21st century, but our actions and our needs haven’t changed. We are the same as those who came before us in the 19th century. David: That is fascinating. Now another question I have is regarding the paintings. How do you paint sound? You can hear it but you can’t see it. Sounds daunting. Beard: That is a good question. My research is non-objective paintings, so I am not doing an illustration of acoustic shadows. I am creating highly conceptualized visual images that are inspired by descriptions and the concepts regarding sound. It is fascinating and challenging to conceptualize the intangible in the silent language of visual form. In fact, I seem to always be painting about the intangible as demonstrated by various bodies of work I have created. One in particular was Flutter and Yaw. This work was based on aerodynamic forces.

The smaller works in the catalog show black covering areas of color. That was my interpretation of the movement of sound traveling in the natural world. The larger scale works seem perhaps less visually active, but I was showing my concept simply of the movement of sound. I worked on the two white paintings Acoustic Shadow WL5, oil/wax, o/c 72 x 84 inches and Acoustic Shadow WG3, oil/wax, o/c 72 x 84 inches for two years. If just glancing at the work, they may appear to be just white paintings (Robert Ryman). The surface of both paintings is thoroughly investigated and complex. The medium is oil and wax thus the surfaces are matte. Both paintings contain layers and elements of drawing throughout the whole picture plane. All of the works in the show contain vertical lines that are referring visually to the movement of sound. I do feel very strongly that to experience the paintings, you have to see them. I did have a viewer ask “How do these show sound?” I said you couldn’t show sound. It is something experienced. The body of work in acoustic shadow is my conceptual imagery of this phenomenon.

AFTERWORD BY BRUNO L. DAVID

I am pleased to present an exhibition titled “Acoustic Shadow” by Laura Beard at the Bruno David Gallery. This is the artist’ fourth solo exhibition with the gallery. The new paintings in this exhibition is inspired by the acoustic shadow phenomenon that occurred during the Civil War. Where sound goes to die, acoustic shadows are areas where sounds, from a certain direction and on a given day, will not penetrate; these acoustic phenomena occur either because the sound waves are absorbed, refracted or simply blown in a different direction. Relatively unnoticed in our modern, wired world, acoustic shadow played a significant role in some of the most famous battles of the American Civil War. Her research is nonobjective paintings, so she is not doing an illustration of acoustic shadows. She is creating visual images that are inspired by descriptions and the concept regarding sound. Beard says, “It is fascinating and challenging to conceptualize sound in the silent language of visual form.” Laura Beard was born in Plattsburg, New York. She is an Associate Professor of Painting and Drawing at the University of North Texas, Denton, TX. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and printmaking from Colorado State University and a Master of Fine Arts in painting from the University of Washington in Seattle. Beard’s work has been featured in solo shows and group exhibitions nationally and internationally She lives and works in Denton, Texas. Support for the creation of significant new works of art has been the core to the mission and program of the Bruno David Gallery since its founding in 2005. I am deeply grateful to Lauren R. Mann and Christina Lu, who gave much time, talent, and expertise to the production of this catalogue. Invaluable gallery staff support for the exhibition was provided by Ruoyi Gan, Helen Fox, Haleigh Givens, Christina Lu, Lauren R. Mann, Thomas Fruhauf, Peter Finley, and Jin Xia.

CHECKLIST & IMAGES OF THE EXHIBITION

Acoustic Shadow WG3 2018 oil, wax on canvas 36 x 48 inches (91.44 x 121.92 cm)

Acoustic Shadow 2W 2018 oil, wax on canvas 72 x 84 inches (182.9 x 213.4 cm)

Acoustic Shadow 1W 2018 oil, wax on canvas 72 x 84 inches (182.9 x 213.4 cm)

Acoustic Shadow WL5 2018 oil, wax on canvas 36 x 48 inches (91.4 x 121.9 cm)

Acoustic Shadow Blue 2018 oil, wax on canvas 36 x 48 inches (91.4 x 121.9 cm)

Acoustic Shadow B2 (detail)

Acoustic Shadow B2 2018 oil, wax on canvas 60 x 72 inches (152.4 x 182.9 cm)

Acoustic Shadow B1 (detail)

Acoustic Shadow B1 2018 oil, wax on canvas 60 x 72 inches (152.4 x 182.9 cm)

Acoustic Shadow Black 2017 oil, wax on canvas 36 x 48 inches (91.4 x 121.9 cm)

Acoustic Shadow 35 2017 Acrylic on paper 12 x 16 inches (30.5 x 40.6 cm)

Acoustic Shadow 7 2017 Ink and acrylic on paper 8 x 12 inches (20.3 x 30.5 cm)

Acoustic Shadow 4 2017 acrylic on paper 8 x 12 inches (20.3 x 30.5 cm)

Acoustic Shadow 50 2017 ink on paper 8 x 12 inches (20.3 x 30.5 cm)

Acoustic Shadow 32 2017 acrylic on paper 12 x 16 inches (30.5 x 40.6 cm)

Acoustic Shadow 13 2017 acrylic on paper 8 x 12 inches (20.3 x 30.5 cm)

Acoustic Shadow 14 2017 acrylic and ink on paper 8 x 12 inches (20.3 x 30.5 cm)

Acoustic Shadow 49 2017 acrylic and ink on paper 8 x 12 inches (20.3 x 30.5 cm)

Acoustic Shadow 24 2017 acrylic and ink on paper 8 x 12 inches (20.3 x 30.5 cm)

Acoustic Shadow 14 2017 acrylic and ink on paper 8 x 12 inches (20.3 x 30.5 cm)

Acoustic Shadow 40 2017 acrylic on paper 12 x 16 inches (30.5 x 40.6 cm)

Acoustic Shadow 33 2017 acrylic on paper 12 x 16 inches (30.5 x 40.6 cm)

Laura Beard: Acoustic Shadow (installation view)

LAURA BEARD EDUCATION 1990 1988

MFA in painting, University of Washington, Seattle, WA BFA in painting/printmaking, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2018 2017 2015 2014

Bruno David Gallery, Acoustic Shadow, Saint Louis, MO (catalogue) Stern Studio, Acoustic Shadow, Vienna, Austria Bruno David Gallery, The Ravenna Suite, Saint Louis, MO (catalogue) Edition PS 1, Forth and Back, Vienna, Austria

2013 2012 2011 2010 2008 2007 2006 2003 2001 2000

Stern Studio, Accumulation of Nothing, Vienna, Austria Hunt Gallery, Recursion, Webster University, St. Louis, MO Space B, Antigua series, New York, NY Bruno David Gallery, Thick and Smooth, Saint Louis, MO (catalogue) Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, Velocity/Volition, Kansas City, MO Perimeter Gallery, Flutter and Yaw, Chicago, IL Bruno David Gallery, New Paintings, Saint Louis, MO Perimeter Gallery, New Paintings, Chicago, IL Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, Perception/Abstraction, Kansas City, MO Philip Slein Gallery, New Paintings, Saint Louis, MO Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, New Paintings, Kansas City, MO St. Louis Ethical Society, Winterkill-Drawings, St. Louis, MO Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, Observations, Kansas City, MO Alice R. Rogers Gallery, Interiors/Exteriors-Paintings, St. Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art Center, Collegeville, MN Left Bank Books Gallery, Paintings-the Vermont Series, St. Louis, MO

2000 1998 1998 1993 1991

Forest Park Community College Gallery, Excavations, St. Louis, MO Messing Gallery, Laura Beard Aeling, Country Day School, St. Louis, MO Left Bank Books Gallery, Surreptitions, St. Louis, MO Contemporary Art Center of Arlington, Broad and Boundless-Encaustic Paintings, Arlington, IL Arthead Gallery, Paintings/Prints, Seattle, WA

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011

Dallas Cultural Center, Art 214, Dallas, TX Bruno David Gallery, OVERVIEW_2018, St. Louis, MO Latino Cultural Center, Art 214, Dallas, TX Bruno David Gallery, OVERVIEW_2017, St. Louis, MO University of North Texas, Faculty Exhibition, Denton, TX Bruno David Gallery, OVERVIEW_2016, St. Louis, MO University of North Texas, Faculty Exhibition, Denton, TX Bruno David Gallery, AND / OR, St. Louis, MO (catalogue) University of North Texas, Faculty Exhibition, Denton, TX Bruno David Gallery, OVERVIEW_2014, St. Louis, MO University of North Texas, Faculty Exhibition, Denton, TX Bruno David Gallery, Blue-White-Red, St. Louis, MO University of North Texas, Faculty Exhibition, Denton, TX Space B, Invitational, New York, NY Bruno David Gallery, W.O.P. 1, St. Louis, MO Stephan Stoyanov Gallery, Flowers for You, New York, NY Edwardsville Art Center Gallery, Artists Respond to Art History, curated by Brigham Dimick, Edwardsville, IL University of Texas, Group Exhibition, Denton, TX Bruno David Gallery, Works on Paper, St. Louis, MO

2010 2009 2008 2007 2005 2004 2003 2002 2000 1999

Stephan Stoyanov Gallery, Sidetrack (with Heather Bennett), New York, NY Bruno David Gallery, RECESSION REJUVENATIONS, St. Louis, MO University of North Texas, Faculty Exhibition, Denton, TX Arthouse Contemporary Museum, New American Talent, Juror: Hamza Walker, Austin, TX Bruno David Gallery, OVERVIEW_09, St. Louis, MO University of North Texas, Faculty Exhibition, Denton, TX Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, St. Louis Painters, Sedalia, MO (catalogue) Columbia Inaugural Invitational, Curated by Sherry Leedy and Doug Freed, Columbia, MO Metropolitan Gallery, Webster University Faculty Exhibition, St. Louis, MO Bruno David Gallery, Controlled Chaos, St. Louis, MO Bruno David Gallery, OVER_VIEW: Investigating What We See, St. Louis, MO Philip Slein Gallery, Small Work Invitational Exhibit, St. Louis, MO Left Bank Books Gallery, Authentic Embodiment - Collaborative Exhibition with Ann Rast, St. Louis, MO Regional Arts Commission, Abstract Painting: 6 Points of View, Curated by Belinda Lee, St. Louis, MO Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, Group Exhibition, Kansas City, MO Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, Group Exhibition, St. Louis, MO Kemper Museum, Washington University Faculty Exhibition, St. Louis, MO Philip Slein Contemporary Art, Group Exhibition, St. Louis, MO Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, Group Exhibition, Kansas City, MO St. Louis Art Museum, Change of Space, Film by Laura Beard and D. Jansky, St. Louis, MO Museum of Contemporary Art, Art Cache, Group Exhibit/Auction, St. Louis, MO Left Bank Books, This is an Image, Collaborative Exhibition with Ann Rast, St. Louis, MO Springfield Museum of Art, Watercolor U.S.A., National Juried Exhibition, Springfield, MO Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, Group Exhibition, Kansas City, MO Lemp Brewery, Inform, Group Exhibition, St. Louis, MO Des Lee Gallery, Landscape, Group Exhibition, Curator: Philip Slein, St. Louis, MO New American Paintings, Volume 22, National Juried Exhibition in Print Springfield Museum of Art, Watercolor U.S.A., National Juried Exhibition, Springfield, MO Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, Group Exhibition, Kansas City, MO

1998 1997 1996 1993 1990

R. Duane Reed Gallery, Group Exhibition, St. Louis, MO Leedy Voulkos Gallery, Group Exhibition, Kansas City, MO Erector Square Gallery, International Women’s Exhibition, New Haven, CT Art Loft Gallery, Extirpate, with Andy Milner and Heather Bennett, St. Louis, MO Courthouse Gallery, National Juried Exhibition, Woodstock, IL Forum of Contemporary Art, Stations of the Cross, St. Louis, MO Laguna Gloria Museum of Art, Primarily Paint, Curator: Peter Doroshenko, Austin, TX Artist’s Lofts Gallery, National Group Exhibition, Galveston, TX Wayland Babtist Gallery, National Group Exhibition, Wayland, TX McAllen International Museum, National Group Exhibition, McAllen, TX Firehouse Gallery, National Group Exhibition, Del Rio, TX Red Mesa Art Center, National Group Exhibition, Gallup, NM Henry Art Gallery, MFA Thesis Exhibition, Seattle, WA

GRANTS & AWARDS Artist Residency at Sternstudios, Vienna Austria 2017 Artist Residency at PS-1 Editions, Vienna Austria 2014 Research Enabling Grant, University of North Texas, Denton TX 2014 Research Enabling Grant, University of North Texas, 2010 Junior Faculty Fellowship, University of North Texas, 2010 Purchase Award, First National Bank, Columbia, MO 2008 Fellowship, Vermont Studio Artist Colony, June 2000 Jessie Rickly Award, St. Louis Artist Guild, St. Louis, MO 1996 Graduate Fellowship, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 1990 Susan Denny Fellowship, University of Washington, Seattle, WA National Fine Art Award, Binney and Smith, U.S.A. 1988

BIBLIOGRAPHY Marks, Kerry. David, Bruno L. ------------------- Zurfluh, Natalie. Cooper, Ivy. Bischof, Nino. Cooper, Ivy. Schwall, Charles. Nikravan, Ladan. Miller, Rob. Peters, Megan. May 2007 Callahan, Teresa.

“The Bruno David Gallery Highlights Monochromatic and Political Art”, TV interview, HEC-TV, April 23, 2018. “Interview” Catalogue, Bruno David Gallery Publication, July 2018. “Murray, Colangelo, Burson & Beard”, Wall Street International Magazine, April 12, 2018. “Laura Beard: The Ravenna Suite”, Bruno David Gallery Publications, Exhibition catalogue, 2015 “Review”, St. Louis Beacon, May 31, 2011 “Grounding, Flow, Release: The Painted Truth”, Bruno David Gallery Publications, Exhibition catalogue, 2011 “Light and Depth at Bruno David”, St. Louis Beacon, November 11, 2008 “Grounding, Flow, Release: The Paintings of Laura Beard”, Bruno David Gallery Publications, Exhibition catalogue, 2008 “Fresh Paint, Fresh Faces”, Inaugural Columbia Invitational, Courtesy of Jason Pollen, Vox Magazine, October 9, 2008 “Comments and Reviews of Visual Art”, St. Louis: Open Studios Tour, 2008 “Laura Beard Aeling and Gary Passanise-Perception/Abstraction” at Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art Review, Kansas City, MO, “Varied Show of Bold Abstracts Revels in the Joy of Paint”, West End Word, October 2004

Norton, Sydney. Daniels, Jeff. Hackman, Kate. Stapley, Caprice. Shockley, Ben. Trafton, Robin. Daniels, Jeff. Daniels, Jeff. Daniels, Jeff. Zevitas, Steven T. Daniels, Jeff. Daniels, Jeff. Silva, Eddie. Weeks, Stephen. Weeks, Stephen.

“Contemporary Moves”, West End Word, October 2004 “Laura Beard Aeling - Winterkill at the St. Louis Ethical Society”, St. Louis Post Dispatch, February 23, 2003 “Something for Everyone”, Kansas City Star, June 29, 2001 “Fresh Raises Expectations for the New”, The Review, July 2001, vol 3, #9 “Abstraction for the Sensory Overload”, The Review, 2001 “Driven to Abstraction”, Kansas City Star, March 30, 2001 “Landscape Go In All Directions”, St. Louis Post Dispatch, July 9, 2000 “This Just In…Painting Still Alive” St. Louis Post Dispatch, summer 2000 “Excavations: New Paintings by Laura Beard Aeling”, St. Louis Post Dispatch, Mar. 19, 2000 “New American Paintings”, volume 23, 1999 (national distribution) “Laura Beard Aeling: Surreptitions”, St. Louis Post Dispatch, April 1998 “Extirpate”, St. Louis Post Dispatch, December 17, 1997 “Extirpate”, River Front Times, December 1997 “Route 66 Brings Real Art to Life”, The Independent, September 22, 1992 “Artist Converge for Route 66 Revisited Exhibit”, The Independent, Gallup, NM, September 18, 1992

Brown, Gaye. Doroshenko, Peter.

“Route 66 Art Show a Must See at Red Mesa”, Gallup Gazette, 1992 “Primarily Paint at the Laguna Gloria Art Museum”, Laguna Gloria Art Museum 1990

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS Lewis and Wright, St. Louis, MO Thompson Coburn, Chicago, IL Polsinell/Shalton/Welte Corp., St. Louis, MO Polsinell/Shalton/Welte Corp., Kansas City, MO Polsinell/Shalton/Welte Corp., Chicago, IL First National Bank, Columbia, MO Bryan Cave, St. Louis, Mo Southwest Bank, St. Louis, Mo St. Louis University Museum of art, St. Louis, MO Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, Sedalia, MO Landmark Bank, Durant, OK Landmark Bank, Whitesboro, TX Warmon Architecture and Design, Kansas City, MO Kaddalic Architecture, Chicago, IL Banner Liquor Company, Chicago, IL

OTHER Present

Associate Professor at the University of North Texas, Denton, TX

brunodavidgallery.com brunodavidprojects.com @bdavidgallery #BrunoDavidGallery #LauraBeard #AcousticShadow #GoSeeArt #ArtExhibition #ArtBook #ArtCatalog instagram.com/brunodavidgallery/ facebook.com/bruno.david.gallery twitter.com/bdavidgallery goodartnews.com/

ARTISTS Laura Beard Heather Bennett Lisa K. Blatt Michael Byron Bunny Burson Judy Child Carmon Colangelo Alex Couwenberg Jill Downen Yvette Drury Dubinsky Damon Freed Douglass Freed

Michael Jantzen Kelley Johnson Howard Jones (Estate) Chris Kahler Xizi Liu Justin Henry Miller James Austin Murray Bill Kohn (Estate) Leslie Laskey Yvonne Osei Patricia Olynyk Gary Passanise

Ellen Jantzen

Judy Pfaff

Charles P. Reay Daniel Raedeke Tom Reed Frank Schwaiger Charles Schwall Christina Shmigel Thomas Sleet Shane Simmons Buzz Spector Cindy Tower Monika Wulfers Jon Howard Young