Beverly Sky
- Community of Residence: Boston
- Email: beverlyskyart@gmail.com
- Website: www.beverlysky.com
- Artist Biography: I was born in Salzburg, Austria, in a Displaced Persons Camp in 1947. Both of my parents were Polish Holocaust Survivors. We immigrated to Rego Park, Queens, in New York City in 1956. I attended City College of New York and Art Students League. I studied dance with Alwin Nickolais, Fiber Arts and Weaving with Gretchen Muller and Ted Hallman and received a weaving scholarship to Penland School of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina. I've taught off-loom techniques at the Vershire School, Vershire, Vermont. From 1969-1976, I lived in Japan and studied weaving and textile arts in Kyoto. While there, I attended the Urasenke School for Tea Ceremony (1969-1971). Currently, my studios are at the Boston Center for the Arts and Fenway Studios.
- Artist Statement: For a certain kind of artist, work is an effort to discover meaning in the world through the materials and processes and stylistic language of his/her art. Primo Levi wrote about the deep satisfaction of seeing one's creation grow and come into being since whatever we make or create in our lives is a reflection of ourselves.
Much of the beauty that arises in art comes from the struggle an artist wages with his limited medium.
Henri Matisse
My work as a fiber artist began with weaving large tapestries and evolved into papermaking, pulp
painting and now, fabric collage. Fabric collage is essentially a free quilting technique. I use commercially
produced fabrics, special order fabrics and when in need of a particular image, I print my own fabric that
is cut and glued onto canvas or assembled into a wall hanging. I began my work in this medium after
serving as the Art Director for the TBZ Faith Quilts as part of the Faith Quilt Project conceived by Clara
Wainwright. Working with forty TBZ’ers over a two year period aged eight to ninety-two was one of the
creative and inspirational highlights of my career. My work in fabric collage tends to be idea or narrative
based. I use the intrinsic qualities of fabrics; the colors, patterns, textures and images, as a ‘painting
medium’ to express philosophical and spiritual ideas that inspire me.
As an artist I've always delighted in making something from nothing and often find myself asking... who
made that? Where did that come from? Inspiration has always come from the miraculous landscapes we
live in and the systems, structures and stories of the world.
I've been active in many artistic and community activities including:
- Co-Founded Autumn Press, Inc., a publishing company specializing in books about Asia for the West. As the art director I designed and produced 18 books, including: The Book of Tofu, The Book of Miso, The Lima Ohsawa Cookbook, The Book of Whole Meals, Cry of the People by Kim Chi Ha, Of Separateness and Merging by Ellen Bass, The Temple in Man by R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz, and Nuclear Madness by Dr. Helen Caldicott.
- Lectured at Harvard University (1980) on ' The World of the Small Publisher' N.E. Poet's Conference
- Received Honorable Mention by Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs for a monotype exhibited at Boston City Hall in conjunction with Boston’s 350th Birthday Celebration.
- Served as the designer and art director at Illuminations, Inc. A graphic arts publishing company
- Was a member of EES/ARTS, a printmaking collaborative (1981-1983)
- Belonged to the Art Directors Club of Boston (1980-1984)
- Founded the River Street Artists, Waltham, MA (1984-86) and was a founding member of Brickbottom Artists Building (1997 to present)
- Served on the boards of Temple Beth Zion, Brookline, MA (1999-2005), the Union Park Neighborhood Association (2007 to 2019) and United South End Artists (2010 - 2020)
- Volunteered as a Reiki Master at Brigham & Women’s Hospiital, Brookline, MA (2009-2012)
I've received the following awards:
- Artscope Magazine, Juriy selected centerfold artist for July / August 2009 issue
- Honorable Mention, Danforth Museum, Juried Members Show (2007)
- Worcester Art Museum, Francis J. Kinnicutt Grant (2005) - Artist Travel Grant to study Papermaking Techniques in Mexico
- Massachusetts Arts Lottery Grant (1992) for teaching handmade papermaking techniques to high school art majors in Brookline, MA
- Massachusetts Arts Lottery Grant (1986) for Handmade Paper set design for Dance/Performance Group “Jo Ha Kyu”.
My art work is part of the permanent collections of the following institutions (partial listing):
- Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, MA
- Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.
- Bank of Boston
- Fidelity Investments
- Law Firm of Choate, Hall and Stewart
- Baybank
- Beth Israel Hospital
- Law Firm of Peabody and Arnold
- Boston College
- Forrester Research
- Law Firm of Burns & Levinson
- Providence Hilton Hotel
- Repose
- Right Associates
- Tucker Anthony
- Law Firm of Goodwin-Proctor
- Molecular
- Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Kenmore Square
- Valley Hospital, Ridgewood, NJ
- UMASS Boston, Joiner Center Collection
- Newbridge on the Charles (Affiliate of Hebrew Senior Life)