Visual Master Bernard Hoyes Brings Art Alive in “Seven Paintings, A Story in Performance” an Interdisciplinary Artistic Production at the Ford Amphitheatre about a Spiritual Journey from the African Diaspora @makedaqueen
Los Angeles – For over four decades the paintings of visual art master Bernard Stanley Hoyes have stimulated the masses. With compositions that boast majestic color, bold creativity and magnetic passion, his artwork is known for stirring the heart, mind and soul. As an iconic craftsman channeling images from a deeply spiritual space, it has been said that Hoyes’ work ‘speaks’ in more ways than one, touching the core of African worship through Jamaican Revivalism. The fervor behind it all; the moans, hallelujahs and laments, the whispers and the shouts, as well as the wailing and chants that seep through his compositions, are now going to literally jump off the canvas and come to life in a interdisciplinary materialization entitled, “Seven Paintings, a Story in Performance.” The event take place Sunday, August 5, at 8.:00pm at Los Angeles’ Ford Amphitheatre as part of the venue’s ever-popular “
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Presented by Bernard Hoyes’ Caribbean Fine Arts Publishing and the Jamaica Cultural Alliance, “Seven Paintings” features the art imagery of Hoyes, the choreography of Pat Taylor with her Jazzantiqua Dance Ensemble and drumming in the Yoruba/ Nyabengi tradition from the Kabasa Drum Ensemble. Seven separate works from Hoyes’ Revival Series will serialize a story of ambition and redemption. Each work will represent a scene as it is rear projected, stimulating the chapter’s interpretation by the dancers as Hoyes’ art is transformed into a magical staging of music, dance and pantomime. An engaging tambourine chorus chants the narrative of the next painting as they luminously transform from scene to scene.
The interdisciplinary odyssey relates the spiritual journey of a young Jamaican medium who flees her position as the village healer to pursue her dreams of becoming a dancer. She experiences the wider world through relationships with a Rastafarian, a sailor and a policeman. Each encounter becomes a duet in the backdrop of a carnival masquerade. The carnival is a metaphor for the world at large. Finally, as the medium is lost in despair, a vision reveals her true path.
Prices start at $35 for adults; full-time students with ID pay $15 and children 12 and under $12.Tickets are available at www.FordTheatres.org or 323 461-3673 (for non-visual media 323 GO 1- FORD).
“This is truly another incredible peak in my career,” expresses Hoyes, “as my work will actually come to life and be expressed through dance, performance and music. I paint visions that transmit pinnacles of movements and these are now being interpreted – I can’t even begin to convey my excitement. I am overwhelmed to have my work included in the ‘Ford 2012 Dance’ series. This is going to be beyond spectacular! The audience is going to witness true magic as life will now imitate art!”
About Bernard Hoyes
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Hoyes demonstrated artistic abilities early on. When he was trotted off to live with a great aunt in rural Jamaica, his exposure to revival cults, ceremonies and rituals planted seeds deep within that would manifest as art in his later years.
Hoyes’s formal art studies began at Junior Art Centre at the Institute of Jamaica. At age 15 he left Jamaica for New York City. His lessons continued at the Art Students League and Vermont Academy. A heady combination of his drive to excel and the influence of the civil rights movement placed Hoyes at the helm of propelling the academy to institute social and cultural programs. Upon graduation he was the first recipient of the Frederick Stanley Art Award and saw the launching of the school’s first formal arts department. When Hoyes attended an alumnus reception some years later, to receive the Florence Sabin Distinguished Alumni Award, he felt pride in seeing the new edifice housing a formal art department. He earned a Bachelor in Fine Arts in painting and graphic design from the California School of Arts and Crafts in Oakland.
His recognition and affirmation of traditional African religion and spirituality continues to find universal appeal, stunning audiences worldwide as evidenced by his “2009 Fall Tour – Europe.” Oprah Winfrey, Natalie Cole, Steve Harvey, Keenan Ivory Wayans and the National Urban League are among his collectors. Selections of Hoyes’ work have been featured in several television shows, including the Showtime hit series, “Dexter” and movies including Chris Rock’s “I Think I Love My Wife.” President Barack Obama has even been photographed in front of his work. His craft has been fêted internationally in galleries around the world.
Most recently Hoyes’ work was on display as part of the “Places of Validation, Art & Progression” exhibit organized by the California African American Museum as part of the Getty initiative “Pacific Standard Time: Art in LA 1945-1980” exhibitions; and he is featured in Lyn Kienholz’s coffee table New Art Encyclopedia pictorial, “L.A. Rising: SoCal Artist before 1980” also supported by the Getty Foundation.
“Seven Paintings” is sure to elevate, inspire and revolutionize the way we view art in the future. For additional information go to http://www.fordtheatres.com/en/events/details/id/367 . And to experience the work of Bernard Hoyes’ beyond seven paintings, go to http://www.BernardHoyes.com.
About the Ford Amphitheatre
The Ford Amphitheatre is located at 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood, CA, just off the 101 Hollywood Freeway across from the Hollywood Bowl and south of Universal Studios. The grounds open two hours before showtime for picnicking. There will be a VIP reception to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence in the Little Theatre that begins at 6:00 pm, performance begins at 8:00 pm. The Ford offers a number of dining options: a variety of food and beverages is available on site and box dinners for evening events may be ordered in advance. Patrons are welcome to bring their own food and drink.
The Ford is disabled accessible. Portable wireless listening devices are available upon request. On-site, stacked parking costs $5 per vehicle for evening shows and $1 per vehicle for morning family shows. For evening shows only, FREE non-stacked parking serviced by a FREE shuttle to the Ford, for evening amphitheatre performances only, is available at the Universal City Metro Station lot at Lankershim Blvd. and Campo de Cahuenga. The shuttle, which cycles every 15-20 minutes, stops in the “kiss and ride” area.
This event is part of the Ford Amphitheatre 2012 Season, a multi-disciplinary arts series produced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission in cooperation with Los Angeles County-based arts organizations. For a complete season schedule, directions to the theater and parking information, log on to www.FordTheatres.org .
