An important artist and educator, Richard Carlyon (1930-2006) will receive a four-venue retrospective of his creative legacy beginning with simultaneous openings and receptions on Sept. 11.
"Richard Carlyon: A Retrospective," will be hosted through October by 1708 Gallery (of which he was a co-founder), the Anderson Gallery of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts (where he taught for more than 40 years and which is coordinating the event), the Reynolds Gallery and the Visual Arts Center of Richmond.
A 2001 recipient of the Theresa Pollak Prize for Excellence in the Arts, Carlyon said then of his teacher: "One valuable lesson I learned from Ms. Pollak was that you can't feign seriousness in the pursuit of art."
He taught painting, art history, communication arts, dance and sculpture. During his 50-year career, he produced in his studio an extensive body of paintings, drawings, videos, collages and constructions, many of which the public has never seen.
Each venue will present a thematically arranged portion of Carlyon's work in order to show his artistic development and protean production.
The Anderson Gallery's exhibit, curated by Ashley Kistler, is titled "Choice." The show will include a re-creation of the artist's studio and major painting series from the 1970s on, with videos and supplemental drawings to round out the picture.
The 1708 Gallery show, "Interval," co-curated by Carlyon students Brad Birchett and Gregg Carbo, will display the artist's fascination with visual spacing and pauses in movement.
The Reynolds Gallery's Beverly Reynolds (who exhibited his work) will showcase Carlyon's art featuring his wife, artist Eleanor Rufty, and paintings and drawings from the early and later portions of his career.
The theme of the Visual Arts Center's display, curated by Katherine Huntoon, is "Chance," and it will examine Carlyon's interest in collage and assemblages.
The entire retrospective will be accompanied by a 96-page catalog, designed by VCU professor and artist John Malinoski, that includes essays by VCU professor emeritus of art history Howard Risatti and novelist Wesley Gibson. Participating venues will offer the book for $30.
Finally, at the Grace Street Theater on Sept. 26, choreographer Chris Burnside will present a performance in tribute to Carlyon's life and work.
For more information, call 828-1522 or visit vcu.edu/arts/gallery .
