MYRTLE BEACH, SC.- Flanking the entrance of Myrtle Beach’s Rivoli Theater are a pair of abstract figures, one male and one female, which hold up the columns of the theatre facade. Commissioned by the building’s architect, Harold Riddle, the columns were created by a then up-and-coming artist named Gerard Tempest.

Soon after, Tempest would become known as the founder of an art style known as Abstract Spiritualism, and as a world-renowned painter whose works would appear in such prestigious settings as the Vatican Museum in Rome. An exhibit comprising 41 of his paintings and three sculptures, titled Gerard Tempest: Abstract Spiritualism, comes to the Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum Nov. 2-26.

An opening reception, free and open to the public, will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2. Mr. Tempest himself will give a Gallery Talk at 6 p.m. Regular gallery hours, beginning Friday, Nov. 3, are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.

As the movement called Abstract Expressionism emerged in the New York art world of the 1950s, the Italian-born and trained artist Tempest introduced his version of abstraction, which he said was inspired by discoveries of energy forces in the nucleus of the atom. His technique involved creating mystical images within undulating ribbons of color and light, which he believed suggested the infinite movement and light in space.

Tempest and his wife subsequently moved to Myrtle Beach, where he built two homes and opened the area’s first art gallery, Tempest at the Sea. Following a study of architecture at Harvard University, from 1958-1963 Tempest designed and built a 35-room, 8,500 square foot Italianate villa in Chapel Hill, NC, which he dubbed Villa Tempesta. The building now houses an antiques establishment.

In the early 60’s Tempest further branched out to create hand-decorated furniture, painted with Venetian floral pattern designs, in marked contrast to his abstract work. The furniture was marketed internationally, with thousands of pieces sold.

Gerard Tempest: Abstract Spiritualism appears concurrently with the SC Watercolor Society 29th Annual Traveling Exhibition. Both will be on view through Nov. 26, when the Museum will close for approximately 60 days for renovations.