Reception: Thursday, March 27, 6-9pm
On view through April 12
When Jeff Beal passed away in 2011, Key West lost an influential member of its artist community. Beal’s loose, colorful, inventive and irreverent transformations of chairs, tables and other everyday objects embodied Key West. Many of his collectors were also his good friends, and have helped pull together a fitting tribute. The public is invited to a reception for “Small Clocks & Gentlemen Roosters: Selected Works of Jeff Beal�...
Reception: Thursday, March 27, 6-9pm
On view through April 12
When Jeff Beal passed away in 2011, Key West lost an influential member of its artist community. Beal’s loose, colorful, inventive and irreverent transformations of chairs, tables and other everyday objects embodied Key West. Many of his collectors were also his good friends, and have helped pull together a fitting tribute. The public is invited to a reception for “Small Clocks & Gentlemen Roosters: Selected Works of Jeff Beal” on Thursday, March 27 from 6-9pm at The Studios of Key West, 600 White Street.
Beal started his artistic adventures in Key West 30 years ago, selling hand-painted T-shirts on Duval and later opened Boheem Gallery and Beal Studio. Beal had a talent for taking ordinary objects and infusing them with an almost magical sense of the place from which they came. His trademark painted furniture pieces, which captured the whimsical essence of island life, seemed equally comfortable in living rooms or galleries. Beal left behind not only a beautiful legacy of work, but also a devoted community of friends and supporters.
Nearly fifty works from over twenty collections across the island have been gathered in the Main Hall of the Armory and will be on view from March 27 through April 12.
And those who are inspired by Beal’s work, can sign up now for the Jeff Beal Memorial Yard Sale Challenge on April 12 at The Studios of Key West. Participants must enroll in advance, and will first hit the town in search of a yard sale treasure or flea market find with untapped potential. They are invited to take it home, or back to The Studios to paint it, bedazzle it, or otherwise remake it as a personalized creation. Entries must be turned in by 4pm, and a 4:30 reception with juried prizes will follow. Details at tskw.org.