Stephen Beebe’s art is now. It is modern, vibrant and perfectly fit for the moment. Beebe’s show, titled “Day Dreams at 4 a.m.,” is showing at the Fenario Gallery in downtown Eugene.
Although his work is formally similar to pop surrealism or “low brow” art, it is in many ways tantalizingly hard to define.
“I’m inspired by everyday life. Weird situations or things that don’t make sense are what I like,” Beebe said.
One of the most common motifs throughout the paintings is a radiating sun that suspiciously resembles the Naval Japanese flag: red rays that radiate from a central red sun.
Yet, contrary to appearances, Beebe insists there is little to no political meaning. “I’m not trying to send a message. I try to keep it simple and straightforward,” Beebe said, adding that the sun is a representation of Chico, Calif., his hometown.
Beebe creates as much new work as possible for every show. “Once I’ve painted it, and it doesn’t sell, I’ll either paint over it or just try something else.”
There are many pieces in which the playful, anime-like characters of Beebe’s work seem to inhabit clouds that look straight out of a classic Nintendo title. His art also features wooden cutouts of these characters donning wings or halos. These characters, which are central to almost all of Beebe’s pieces, are named after people who have affected him throughout his life. Well, almost all of them.
“Sometimes I just make them up,” he said.
These woodcuts are sprinkled throughout the gallery, as are a number of found objects. Ordinary, everyday items that the artist transforms into art is a tradition that stretches back well into the last century within movements such as Dada. Pop surrealism, reminiscent of Beebe’s work, is influenced by Dada as well.
The found objects in the show range from the aforementioned wood cuts to repainted aerosol cans to signs salvaged from an unknown highway. These signs, which were previously meant to direct traffic, have been repurposed as canvases for some of Beebe’s signature characters. The highway signs also feature numerous bullet holes that hearken back to their lives on the road.
“I’m on a mission to find found objects,” Beebe said.
At times, that mission provokes him to break the law. “Occasionally, I just go and take the signs. I guess that’s stealing, but I never notice the signs when I’m driving anyways.”
All of his pieces are crafted using a vibrant urban palette, focusing mostly on neon and bright colors.
Although most of the art shares the themes of radiating suns and found objects, there are three exceptions: a collection of paintings in a corner of the gallery that features a girl’s stenciled profile. These paintings each carry a different emotion: an inviting, longing sadness. They primarily differentiate themselves from the other pieces because they feature a real human face, even possessing a certain Andy Warhol-like quality to them because of the repetition of a single facial silhouette.
The Warhol influence becomes clear with a movement that was also influenced by the pop art of the 1960s.
Though references to past art movements run rampant at the show, the sense that a new creative force is developing shines through.
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