Myers speaks of his newest collection of paintings beginning with a quote from Lui Barragán:
“Beauty, Inspiration, Magic, Spellbound, Enchantment, as well as the concepts of Serenity, Silence, Intimacy and Amazement. […] They have never ceased to be my guiding lights.” ~ Luis Barragán, acceptance speech for the Pritzker Architecture Prize, 1980
Myers then states: “Luis Barragán (1902-1988) was an influential Mexican architect whose buildings were a blend of Modernism and traditional Mexican culture. They are marked by his use of bold colors, simple natural forms and materials, the play between light and shadow, and spaces that invited introspection and contemplation. Looking at his work, I was struck by his use of color, particularly his vibrant yellows and pinks that were bold but surprisingly calming. It was easy to see why his work is considered emotional architecture.
I was also struck by the qualities he listed above in his acceptance speech for the Pritzker Prize. We all follow guiding lights of some sort in our lives, attributes that form the paths we follow, the dreams we dream, the beliefs we hold sacred, and the standards – the ethics and morals – to which we personally adhere.
I would like to think that my list is not too far removed from the list of Barragán, especially those final four concepts he mentions: serenity, silence, intimacy, and amazement. I might throw in harmony. They certainly were close to the surface of consciousness while at work for my new exhibit, Guiding Light, which opens on Friday, October 17th, at the West End Gallery.
I have often employed the simple shape of the sun/moon in my work as a symbol of guidance and of something greater than ourselves. This show, my 24th solo exhibit at the West End Gallery, is filled with moons and suns. I have come to see the sun/moon as being equal in importance to my work as the Red Tree or any other of the icons that often inhabit it. As an element, it creates a palpable presence in each piece.”
GC Myers is a contemporary painter from the Finger Lakes region of New York. He came to painting in mid-life as a result of an accident that occurred while building his home in the early 1990’s. What seemed like a bad break at the time was actually an act of good fortune as it gave him the time to obsessively pursue painting. After a little more than a year after beginning to paint, Myers began his career by first showing at Corning’s West End Gallery in early 1995. Since that time, Myers’ recognizable and unique landscapes have attracted a large following and are avidly collected both here and abroad. Myers’ landscapes are purely imaginary, reflecting emotion and feeling through the forms and colors in the paintings. His work incorporates rich, bold colors with strong organic forms and lines, all built on uniquely textured surfaces that give each piece an added dimension of depth that transforms the work on an emotional level. His use of iconic and recurring images such as his Red Tree and Red Roofs provide a line of continuity through his work that allows the viewer to easily engage and find their own perspective and feelings within the paintings. Myers’ work is constantly evolving and growing, which is displayed at the few solo exhibitions he does each year around the country. Over the years, he has had over 40 solo exhibitions at the galleries which represent his work. These solo exhibits have taken place at galleries in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina and California.