When I first saw the work of the self taught, Virginia artist, B.B. Beamer I was quite simply blown away. Delicate and fragile, these paintings/drawings are indeed some of the most unique, not to mention, original works you are likely to have run across in sometime. Begun 30 years ago, as a way of focusing on sociocultural signs, symbols, and issues of communication. The painter's 'MESSAGES' or 'MIWD' series remains a fresh and electrifying exploration into the ways in which we communicate feeling. Being very small, the works themselves allow the viewer immediate intimacy. Not to mention the apparent dual existence of complexity and simplicity which helps to give each piece a marvelous sense of urgency. But this is where the buck stops. Initial viewing is a bit like finding oneself lost in the daylight. These tiny cryptic works seem to resemble nothing specific, but candidly point subconsciously toward tangible ideology. The messages in these works cannot be expressed through mere words and maybe that is the point. For the truest forms of communication are never spoken. A glance or a sigh are two that come to mind. Beamer has maintained his conviction that 'MESSAGES can at best approach a Millennial Universal language. If this is to be taken literally than the beauty of these 'MESSAGES is their wordlessness. Their language being more akin to ripples on water. Their zen like qualities clearly reaching toward the purity of a soul seeking truth in spirit. Maybe in the next milliennium, when all else fails and there is no longer a need for words, we will begin to fully appreciate these beautiful, lingering, images, created by self taught artist, Billy Bob Beamer. Born in 1947, Beamer has appeared in more than 30 shows and won numerous awards for his unique visionary work. |