Gothic Portal

“Gothic Portal”brings an architectural element that is usually 60 feet above us and places it right at eye level. From a distance it appears to be made from a dark stone that you would see in new England or Europe. Coming closer it looks more like cast iron. Up close you realize that it is created out of rusted tin. 
It was made entirely by hand using repoussé and chasing techniques, a simple handbrake and thousands of hammer strokes. There is a wood frame underneath each layer of metal. The rusted tin was from a collapsed barn built around 1917 that I salvaged. Taking a material that has been abandoned and considered worthless, that the wind bends and blows away, to use that material to make a sculpture that appears so solid, weighty, and beautiful amazes me.

Beau Lyday was born in Athens, GA and currently lives in an 1840's farm house with his wife Brenda and their dog Waldo in Valdese, NC. His current works is in rusted tin and wood sculpture. Completed his BS at Berry college Rome, GA. Beau has exhibited in various shows in the southeast including Caldwell Arts Council, ArtFields in SC, solo shows at the Old Rock School House gallery in Valdese, NC Storefront Gallery in Valdese, NC. He was awarded a regional artist grant from the North Carolina Arts Council in 2013 and has been selected to exhibit at ArtFields in Lake City, SC 2015, 2017, 2018. Lyday was a finalist in North Charleston National Outdoor Competition & Exhibition and won third place in the 33rd Rosen National Outdoor Competition & Exhibition. He was awarded best in show in 2017 & 2018 at the Lenoir Sculpture Celebration. Beau's works are in several private collections. He is represented by Liz Brown owner of Anvil Sculpture Gardens in Linville, NC.