Feature Articles


May Issue 2000

Beth Brya Offers Botanicals at Beaufort County Library Gallery in Beaufort, SC

Botanicals will be the subject of Beth Brya's work as featured artists for Beaufort Art Association's new show at Art Among the Books Gallery on the second floor of Beaufort County Library in Beaufort, SC. The exhibit will be on view from May 11 through June 12, 2000.

Brya traces her love of botany and botanicals to a life-long interest in the beauty of plants and flowers she discovered in her travels as the daughter of an Air Force pilot and as the wife of a Brigadier General of the Air Force. Born in Shreveport, LA, she has lived all over the US from "Montana to Florida and California to Virginia as well as Europe and the Orient."

Brya has collected Antique Botanicals for years. When upon retirement she had a permanent home of her own, she took up gardening with such success that her gardens have been the scene of tours including "A Taste of the Arts Tea" and Beaufort Garden Club's Tour of Beaufort Gardens.

Brya's desire to paint her gardens prompted her to begin to study botanical painting. She was intrigued by an exhibition of contemporary botanicals at the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC, which was the collection of Shirley Sherwood, wife of the owner of Charleston Place. Brya took workshops at the hotel studying with renown botanical artist, Katie Lee, and has attended a flower painting workshop presented by Jan Ford. Other influences are study with Mary Whyte, Judy Betz, Gloria Dalvini and Karlyn Holman.

"How could one paint anything more beautiful than flowers? What is more fascinating, or awe-inspiring than nature? I am so grateful I can see and in seeing share with others what I see and love."

Brya is an anthropologist with a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology and a minor in Women's Studies from Southern Illinois University.

The Gallery exhibit will include work by fellow BAA artists.

For further information check our SC Institutional Gallery listings or call the gallery at 843/525-4000.

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