AUGUST
9, 2008
By Holly Claycomb
Gazette Staff Writer
History comes alive as the Bedford
County Arts Center combines three dimensional sculptures by Wayne Hyde
with paintings by Bryant and Pamela Patrick White for the August show.
The Whites, who are also reenactors and musicians, create
poignant scenes depicting American life in the 1800s. They focus on the
American Revolutionary War, the French and Indian War and Eastern
Woodlands Native Americans.
The Whites’ paintings and Hyde’s sculptures work together to
put a face on history.
"We recreate the visuals that don’t exist," Pamela said. “We
fill in the blanks.”
Bryant and Pamela moved to the Everett area in December from
Baltimore, Md.
Wayne was born and raised in Bedford County and now resides
in the Glade Pike area of Manns Choice.
As the three friends worked to set up the show Tuesday
afternoon at the arts center, Pamela said it made sense for them to do
the show together.
“We’ve all gotten to be friends, we love each other’s work
and thought this would be a nice venue,” she said.
The show is also a way for the arts center to celebrate the
region’s 250th anniversary.
Wayne’s sculptures of wildlife frozen in action compliment
the Whites’ works depicting Indians hunting.
The Whites’ works of frontier life create a stunning backdrop
to Hyde’s 180-pound sculpture of an Indian peering through leaves.
With a bachelor’s degree in visual arts and graphic design,
Bryant works mostly in oils, watercolors and pen and inks. Pamela is an
award-winning book illustrator and paints in oils and pastels.
The duo read diaries and journals, as well as other history
pieces, to get a sense of time and place.
Bryant and Pamela said sometimes a brief passage will capture
their imagination for a piece, while at other times an entire book will
translate into a painting. It just depends on what they find when they
read.
For instance, Pamela said, her painting of a mother holding a
baby was created after reading a journal about a young man convincing
his lady to move to the frontier. The journal paints the picture of a
young woman who ended up lonely and rather disappointed that things
didn’t work out the way she imagined. “Expectations” depicts the woman
holding her young child while standing on a porch looking across the
vast prairie.
Many of the Whites’ paintings have a short history
description with them, so through the imaginations of the painters,
viewers will get a glimpse of the past while learning some history.
“We try to show some history, some thought processes behind”
the final product, Pamela said.
“That way they’re more than pretty pictures,” Bryant said.
In addition to reading, the Whites’ experiences as reenactors
gives them insight into what their subjects may be feeling.
“You get to play the part, experience the weather, the cold,
the heat, the rain,” Pamela said, adding she feels this adds substance
to their work.
Most of the Whites’ 30 paintings on display were created in
the last year or two, with the exception of the Flag Maker, which was
created by Pamela in 2004.
Each year the couple travel up and down the East Coast ‹ from
Canada to Florida ‹ showing their work.
“We produce a lot,” Pamela said, because their customers
expect new works.
It can take two weeks to two years to complete a piece,
depending on the deadline. The Whites complete commissioned pieces for
corporations and museums, as well as other pieces for gallery shows.
“It’s rewarding, but not necessarily relaxing,” Pamela said
with a laugh.
All of the couple’s artwork on display at the arts center are
originals, and they’re all for sale. Lithographs and giclee prints are
also available.
In addition, the Whites sell secondary rights to their art
work to TV programs such as those on the history channel, where they
can be used to fill in for visuals. Also, they sell secondary rights so
the art is available for book covers.
To encourage and support teaching efforts, the Whites donate
the usage of their artwork as visuals to nonprofit organizations. More
information can be found on their Web site www.whitehistoricart.com.
Nature and history inspire the bronze sculptures of
self-taught and nationally-recognized artist Wayne Hyde ‹ who
moonlights as an equipment operator at Shawnee State Park.
“The Hunter’s Wrath” is a woodland scene that depicts an
actual, historic encounter between a large black bear, the hunter and
his dogs. The piece is inspired by the historic journal of
frontiersman, Meshach Browning, who hunted the hills of western
Maryland and Pennsylvania during the 1800s. The piece is on display at
the arts center, positioned with a original oil painting by Bryant
titled “Eternal Vigilance.”
Other bronze pieces on display include “Bed and Breakfast,” a
whimsical look at an otter; “The King of Cactus Canyon” depicting an
elk and “My Rifle & My Life,” among many others.
Wayne’s work can be found throughout the United States,
including “They Stood Tall,” a life-size sculpture depicting one Union
and one Confederate soldier in Clinton, Mo.
And Wayne is currently commissioned to create a
larger-than-life size sculpture for a Vietnam War Memorial in Canby,
Ore.
The Oregon sculpture will be one and a quarter lifesize,
Wayne said, and will depict three people. He has already completed the
work in a smaller scale, but is waiting to complete the full-size
version when the town’s landscaping project is complete.
“They’re working on a national monument,” he said, adding
that 83 small sculptures of “A Hero’s Prayer” were cast and the town is
selling those to raise money for the larger monument. Already in place
is most of the scene ‹ a frozen moment in time depicting a restored
Huey helicopter suspended above the ground as if ready to pick up the
soldier carrying another and leading a small child.
“It’s to honor all who served during Vietnam,” Wayne said.
Wayne creates his pieces first in clay then ships the smaller
ones to foundries to be cast in bronze. The larger pieces he drives
personally to the foundry. It takes about 350 pounds of clay to create
the the larger-than-life sculptures, he noted. More of Wayne’s work can
be found at Lambert’s Custom Framing in Bedford and on the Internet at
Lord Nelson’s Gallery, Gettysburg, http://www.lordnelsons.com.
Among the pieces currently “in the works” is a sculpture of
one of the Black Boys. To give everyone on idea of what is involved in
creating the finished bronze pieces, the raw piece will be on display
during the artists reception Wednesday, Aug. 13, 5 to 7 p.m. at the
arts center.
At the time, visitors are encouraged to talk to the artists,
ask about their work and see history come alive in the pairing of
paintings and sculpture.
The Whites and Hyde exhibit will be on display through August
29. The Bedford County arts center is in the historic Anderson House,
137 E. Pitt Street, Bedford. The arts center is handicapped accessible.
Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more
information, call 623-1538 or e-mail gallery@artsinbedfordpa.org.