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JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – This artistic display invites viewers on a journey of mystery with pieces that are meant to teach, warn and inspire.
“Deities & Demigods: Legends and Lore,” an exhibition by Johnstown resident Koa Beam, is on display through Feb. 28 in the Goldhaber-Fend Fine Arts Center gallery at the Community Arts Center of Cambria County, 1217 Menoher Blvd., Westmont.
In the collection of artworks, Beam shares his love of timeless lore and mythology that dates back to the earliest cultures and yet manages to stand the test of time.
The exhibition, Beam’s third gallery show at the arts center, features inspirational tales and realms of legend, filled with gods, monsters, heroes and even superheroes.
“This show is going to have a focus on mythology,” he said.
“Even though it’s going to have my normal amount of superheroes, sci-fi and pop culture pieces, there’s prominent mythology and cryptozoology work. There’s Sasquatches and Nessie to go along with Zeus and Odin.”
The show features 60 pieces, many of which were newly created for the exhibition.
“There’s biblical-type pieces with angels, there’s cryptid pieces with the wendigo and the Mothman, and there’s the true mythology pieces from Greek, Roman and Norse mythology,” Beam said. “I’m Polynesian, so there’s a couple Polynesian pieces as well.”
The exhibition includes sketches, pen-and-ink drawings, pencil drawings, paintings in acrylics and prints of work featured in previous art shows.
There also are several portfolios containing rough sketches of ideas.
“I’ve been told by people that they like to see how a piece starts out,” Beam said. “My stuff can be really sketchy and scribbly, so people can see how this turns into that.”
As part of the exhibition, Beam will be at the arts center twice a week throughout the duration of the show, creating new works to be included in the display.
“I’ll be doing live demos that will fill in open spots on the wall,” Beam said. “There will be labels telling people which piece will be coming and when.
“This gives me leeway to add to the show, and it incentivizes people to come back up to see what’s been added.”
He said his hope is that viewers of his artworks will want to delve deeper into the mythic and epic stories they depict.
“If they don’t know much about Norse mythology, maybe they’ll want to learn more about the adventures of Thor and Odin, or they’ll see a picture of Godzilla and want to check out the newest movie,” Beam said. “I hope people get a sense of epic adventure and mythic tales and really enjoy them because they are still really good and inspiring.”
Featured artwork can be purchased following the show.
“I’ll also make prints available for purchase for those who can’t get the original,” Beam said. “People will be able to make a request for any of the pieces, and if a print can be made of that one, I’m more than happy to run off a print for them. They’ll all be the same price at $25.”
Beam, a 1991 graduate of Westmont Hilltop High School, has been working in graphics, design and illustration in numerous capacities for many years. He currently is a lead graphic artist for CANA Advisors in Gainesville, Virginia.
In his free time as an artist, Beam does sci-fi and fantasy illustrations.
He donates his time and knowledge to the Community Arts Center of Cambria County by volunteering to teach classes, giving talks on his process and art style, and lending his amateur acting talents to the arts center’s Log Art Theatre productions.
“I just like good stories and dynamic visuals,” Beam said.
“I’m a character-driven art guy. I’m not so much into scenery – although scenery makes a character picture better – but I know my strengths, and that’s in the character itself. I like portraying characters that people have an interest in. I draw for myself, and I hope other people will think it’s cool.”
Angela R. Godin, executive director of the arts center, said Beam’s work is compelling with his skills and abilities to draw and shade his work.
“I believe that this exhibit captures such amazing fantasy and extravagant images of characters, both real and imagined by Koa,” she said. “For this show, he wanted to do something different and showcase more of the fantasy and some of the interesting intricacies of the concepts he can create.”
Godin said the show is diverse and will attract people with varying interests.
“You have history, folklore, fantasy, creatures and cultures,” she said. “There’s a lot of beauty in different ways for different people. It still stays together as a genre for his artistic medium, but yet it’s more than that, and that’s super-cool.”
Godin said Beam is an engaging artist who enjoys talking about his work and sharing it with others, so the exhibition is a perfect opportunity to learn more about him.
“From the simplistic with pencil to the more colorful pieces, it’s going to be very exciting for people who see the show,” she said.
To celebrate the exhibition, a wine and cheese opening reception will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday. Beam will be on hand to discuss his work and creative process.
“I’ll put the finishing touches on a piece at the opening reception and then hang it,” he said.
There is no fee to attend the reception, which is sponsored by the Barbara & Elmer Laslo Cultural Heritage.
A video tour of the works of art will be available on the arts center’s YouTube and Facebook page following the opening of the exhibition.
There is no admission fee to attend the exhibition. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
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