Self Portrait with Green Background, oil on canvas by Beverly McIver
Artist Beverly McIver was named in 2011 as one of the “Top Ten in Painting” by Art in America. Her work is on display in seven separate art museums and, prior to her appointment as the Suntrust Endowed Chair Professor of Art at North Carolina Central University, she taught at Arizona State University, Duke, NC State and NCCU. She has been reviewed in Art News, Art in America, The New York Times and other publications, and has received numerous grants and awards.
A significant presence in contemporary American art, Beverly also devotes herself as a legal guardian to her oldest sister, Renee, who is mentally disabled and, at 48, has the mindset of a second grader. Renee is often a subject in Beverly's paintings.
"Raising Renee," a feature-length documentary film by Academy Award-nominated and award-winning filmmakers Steven Ascher and Jeanne Jordan, follows Beverly for six years after she promises her dying mother that she will take care of Renee after her passing. The film premieres on HBO on next Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Craven Allen Gallery also hosts a reception for the artist's exhibition Beverly McIver: Small Works on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 5-7pm. While the major retrospective of Beverly's work is currently on display at the North Carolina Museum of Art, Small Works portrays Beverly's more personal and intimate pieces and includes media works on paper and monoprints, in addition to her signature oils on canvas.
Craven Allen Gallery continues the show through April 7. Gallery hours are from 10am-6pm, Monday-Friday and 10am-4pm on Saturday. For more information, call 286-4837 or click here.
