Biography: Beverlye Hyman Fead
Beverlye Hyman Fead is a California artist. Having grown up and continued schooling in L.A., she studied art at UCLA and then continued her studies with Charles Bragg, Arnold Mesches, and Ruth Munson. In 1984, she moved to Santa Barbara and continued her studies with Michael Drury. She’s had one-person shows in L.A., Aspen and New York, which included Bloomingdales, Dyanson Galleries and Cartier, along with several group shows. For a period of ten years, Hyman Fead designed ceramics, going to Deruta Italy, and working in the factory of Ubaldo Grazia. Restaurants in Santa Barbara that carry her ceramics include: Stella Mare, Mollies and Cava.
Her impressionist colors vary from cadmium reds, prussian blues to sap greens and burnt umbers. Lately she has broadened her palette to include dark backgrounds in order to compliment her vibrant colors. Her love of flowers and fruit is evident in every painting she does. Recently orchids and her Zen environment have inspired her new series.
After having been diagnosed with cancer in late 2000, Beverlye combined painting with her old love, writing poetry. Her first subject matter was a self-portrait with her poem, “Tears” painted on it. Beverlye’s piece was then digitalized for a cancer project. The project, documenting eight cancer patients, was then made into a documentary film created and produced by Jo-Anne Blatter, Jennie Rennish and Justin Rowe entitled, “The Aphrodite Project”.
Having lost her grandmother, mother, and both sisters to cancer, Beverlye has devoted a great deal of time to cancer on many levels. One of them was raising money and creating a waiting room for cancer patients in Santa Barbara’s Cottage Hospital. This room is filled with her paintings and ceramics. Wanting to inspire other cancer patients with her art and writing then seemed a natural direction to take after being diagnosed with cancer herself.
In 2006 Beverlye became a "Celebration on the Hill Legislative Ambassador" for the American Cancer Society. Her two year commitment to this cause will help to convince lawmakers to make cancer a national priority.
Poetry and painting are now Beverlye’s “healing treatment” of choice. She only hopes that this book motivates people diagnosed with serious diseases to live life to the fullest.
