"A landscape is not the more or less accurate description of what our eyes see, but rather the revelation of what is behind visible appearances. A landscape never refers only to itself; it always points to something beyond itself. It is a metaphysic, a religion, an idea of man and the cosmos."
-Octavio Paz, Alternating Current
Paintings by John Dyer are both an expression of recollection and an invitation to explore. The artist’s canvas becomes a minutely detailed memory of a particular place; it conveys not only his singular communion with his surroundings but also the mystery of each location and its allure. The one overriding affirmation of these paintings is the power of the natural world to engage us.
Octavio Paz’s understanding of landscape perfectly characterizes Dyer’s paintings. The intensity of the light that illuminates this artist’s depictions of the visible world of nature demands us to respond to more than meets the eye. Associations happen - his and ours: botany, geology, and ecology; life and death; questions of existence and considerations of the cosmos. Do we just remember a place or do we recall the journey? Do we value only the visual encounters or do we also seek to see a dimension beyond appearances.
Select Solo & Group Exhibitions:
1967-68- Group show, “New Directions in Sculpture Invitational Exhibit”, Arizona State University, AZ. “Traveling Exhibit of Student Work representing Arizona State University”, 2 Drawings and 1 oil Painting shown.
1971- Juried group show, “Graphics 71: Third Biennial National Print & Drawing Exhibition”, drawing, The Francis McCray Gallery, Western New Mexico University, Silver City, NM. Group open show (Second Prize, graphics), “Central Adirondack Art Show”, Old Forge, NY. Group national show (First Prize and Popular Prize, graphics), “60th Annual Exhibit of American Artists”, Newport, RI.
1972- Group national show (Popular Prize, graphics), “61st Annual Exhibit of American Artists”, Newport, RI. Group show (Second Prize, etching), “Central Adirondack Art Show: Masters’ Show”, Old Forge, NY. Group juried national show, “34th Annual Exhibition of Contemporary American Paintings”, drawing, Palm Beach, FL. Group show (Grand Prize, fine art watercolor), “Cooperstown Art Association Annual”, Cooperstown, NY.
1974- Solo show, Old Forge Community Arts Center, Mixed Media, Old Forge, NY. Group show, “The Human Image: Invitational Drawing Show”, The Francis McCray Gallery, Western New Mexico University, Silver City, NM. Juried group show, Cooperstown Art Association Annual, for Drawing, Cooperstown, NY. Group show, “Invitational Exhibit”, drawings, Russell Sage College, Troy, NY.
1975- Group national show (John Elliot Prize, drawing), “64th Annual Exhibit of American Artists”, Newport, RI.
1977- Group show (Grand Prize, drawing), “Central Adirondack Art Show: Masters’ Show”, Old Forge, NY.
1979- Group national show (First Prize, drawing), “Cooperstown Art Association Annual”, Cooperstown, NY.
1990- Two man show, “Painting and Sculpture”, Old Forge Community Art Center, Old Forge, NY.
1995- Group show, “The Adirondacks: Exhibit of paintings by Adirondack artists”, Gerold Wunderlich & Co., NYC.
2000- Solo show, Adirondack Community College, paintings, Queensbury, NY.
2005- Solo show, “Landscape of Memory”, 18 oil paintings shown, Meibohm Fine Arts, East Aurora, NY.
2006- Solo show, paintings, Old Forge Community Art Center, Old Forge, NY.
2011- Solo show, “A Brush with Madness”, 24 oil paintings show, Meibohm Fine Arts, East Aurora, NY.
2012- Exhibited, group benefit show, "Mill Road Scenic Overlook Benefit Exhibition", Meibohm Fine Arts, East Aurora, NY.
