FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

The Creative Eye of Hyman Shrand

A Memorial Exhibition (1921-1999)

Friday, May 25 through Tuesday, June 17,

Opening Reception Friday, May 25, from 7PM to 9PM.

Beloved physician, professor, storyteller, animal-lover, poet, fisherman, and artist Hyman Shrand, for 50 years “a painter locked up in the body of a pediatrician,” created an extensive body of work in the years after his retirement to Truro.  Describing his work as “primitive expressionism”, Shrand brought a love of color and story to the scenes from his years practicing medicine in a Zulu township in South Africa, circus performers, flowers, fishermen, fish, his cat Gandolph, vistas of Truro and Cape Cod Bay.  He painted many self-portraits. It was not unusual, he says, to get up in the wee hours of the morning and go down to the studio and paint himself.  “I sit down in front of that mirror by the sliding door, and paint what I see.” Inspired and guided by many artists working in the community, his visits to the art galleries of the world,

and by the more than 500 art books in his own library, Shrand devoted every day to painting.   His colorful paintings reflect Shrand’s lively sense of humor, his acute sensitivity to human and animal nature, and the experience of a long life lived to the fullest.  The vivid palette and bold style are uniquely Shrand.

Shrand was born in Capetown, South Africa, and practiced medicine there and later in London before coming to Tufts Medical School to run their Home Care department.  He later served as chief of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge and maintained a large private practice. He also served as pediatrician to many baby animals at the Franklin Park Zoo. In retirement, Shrand worked part-time treating pediatric cases at Outer Cape Health Service.

Shrand first exhibited at Berta Walker Gallery in 1996. He was a member of Provincetown Art Association and Museum where he participated in many exhibitions and the Visual Artists Coop.  His paintings hang in private collections in this country and in Europe. Hyman Shrand died in April 1999.  This memorial exhibition will include new paintings the artist had not yet exhibited.

Next Exhibition:  June 22 - July 15

New Work by Salvatore Del Deo & Brenda Horowitz, and A Salute to the Blessing of the Fleet