Richard Beyer

Richard Sternoff Beyer (July 26, 1925 – April 9, 2012) was an American sculptor from Pateros, Washington. Between 1968 and 2006, Beyer made over 90 sculptures.

For the American computer businessman, see Richard M. Beyer.
Richard Beyer
Born(1925-07-26)July 26, 1925
Washington, D.C.
DiedApril 9, 2012(2012-04-09) (aged 86)
New York City, New York
NationalityAmerican
Educationnone
Known forpublic sculpture
Notable work
Waiting for the Interurban
Websiterichbeyersculpture.com

Biography

Beyer was born in Washington D.C. on July 26, 1925.[1] He was raised in Virginia and graduated from Fairfax High School in 1943.[2]

Beyer enlisted in the U.S. Army in World War II, and served from 1944 to 1946,[3] and was in the Battle of the Bulge.[4]

Beyer earned a degree in social sciences from Columbia University,[5] He moved to Seattle to work on an economics Ph.D. at University of Washington but did not complete the program.[5]

At age 75, in 2001, Beyer suffered a stroke, but he continued to create art.[6] He died in New York City on April 9, 2012 after a stroke.[1]

Work

Beyer was best known for his sculpture Waiting for the Interurban located in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. The sculpture, which is one of the most popular works of art in Seattle,[7] was commissioned by the Fremont Arts Council and dedicated in 1978. It depicts six people and a dog waiting for the Seattle to Everett Interurban, a public transportation service that ended in the 1930s.[8]

Other sculptures by Beyer include a statue of Ivar Haglund in Seattle (Ivar Feeding the Gulls, 1988), several sculptures in Kirkland, Washington, a statue of Christopher Columbus in Columbus, Georgia,[9] a sculpture of a bull sitting on a bench in Ellensburg, Washington,[8] a sculpture of a fisherman kissing a fish in Des Moines, Washington,[6] and a sculpture of a kissing couple in Olympia, Washington described as "perhaps Olympia's most popular and well-known piece of public art".[10] The Traveler (nicknamed "Art") is installed in Bend.

Further reading
  • Beyer, Margaret, W. (1999). The Art People Love: Stories of Richard S. Beyer's Life and His Sculpture. Washington State University. ISBN 0-87422-184-6.

References
  1. Lynn Thompson (April 12, 2012), "Obituary", The Seattle Times
  2. Biography - early years, Rich Beyer official website, retrieved 2012-09-29
  3. Biography - Army, Rich Beyer official website, retrieved 2012-09-29
  4. Jefferson Robbins (January 13, 2005), "Casts of character: Artist Richard Beyer looks back at his legacy", Wenatchee World, retrieved 2012-09-29
  5. Mike Irwin (April 12, 2012), "Coyote mourns: Sculptor Rich Beyer filled NCW with beloved public art", Wenatchee World, retrieved 2012-09-29
  6. Mapes, Lynda V. (October 6, 2001). "Cast in metal, this Ruehle isn't meant to be broken". Seattle Times. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
  7. Ramsey, Bruce (October 10, 1996). "The story behind "Waiting for the Interurban"". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
  8. Lacitis, Erik (March 7, 2000). "Corny or not, Beyer's art appeals to the masses". Seattle Times. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
  9. "New Art For The New World". Seattle Times. October 10, 1993. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
  10. John Dodge (April 15, 2012), "Things are waking up at Horsefeathers Farm", The Olympian, retrieved 2014-02-06
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