Harrison Public Library presents, “Healthy Yards and Other Landscapes: Ink Paintings” by Theresa Beyer

Exhibition is on display February 8, 2026 to March 6, 2026.

Gallery is open to the public during regular library hours.

Artist’s Statement:

As an artist I have always been interested in close observation and capturing the essence of the
subjects of my paintings, usually landscapes and plants. I spent part of my childhood in Asia, and
I have long been interested in Chinese ink painting, but never pursued it myself, instead
exploring the western media of watercolors and pastels. In 2018 I spent several months in Hong
Kong and had my first official introduction to Chinese painting techniques. I continue to work
with teachers at the China Institute in New York and locally at the JCC Mid-Westchester.

Since the 19th century Western artists have been inspired by Asian art, and vice versa. This cross-
fertilization continues to the present. Through my study of ink painting I have learned to be more
deliberate about manipulating a brush and exploring alternate theories of composition. I believe
there has been a synergy in marrying Western and Asian ways of looking at the world, one more
focused on the actual object and the other on a more Platonic idealization of it.

Most recently, because of my work with Healthy Yards New Rochelle, I have been drawn to
painting native plants and insects with the hope that I can contribute to a growing awareness of
these important elements of our natural landscape so that we learn to nurture and appreciate
plants that we used to call weeds. The combination of flowers and insects was a common motif
in Chinese painting using the principle of “host and guest” while 17 th century Dutch florals often
included a multitude of insects.

About the Artist:

Theresa Beyer has a B.A. from Harvard University in Visual and Environmental Studies and an
M. Arch. from Columbia University. She has studied watercolor painting with various artists in
Germany and New York, and Chinese ink painting in Hong Kong and New York, most recently
with Sung Sook Setton and Sinrong Chen. She is a longtime member and past president of the
New Rochelle Art Association and a member of the Mamaroneck Artists Guild. She has received
many awards at shows in the Westchester and Connecticut area. In 2019 she was part of the
group that came together to create Healthy Yards New Rochelle, which promotes gardening
without pesticides and encourages planting native plants to nourish our native pollinators. The
group has grown and is now involved in promoting these ideas at local street fairs, school events
as well as hosting open gardens and providing garden buddies to help people get started.