Leeper’s painting evolved from representational to non-objective over time. She embraced a language of abstraction more typical of the prevailing New York art world in the 1960 and 1970s, as opposed to the dominant aesthetic in Florida during the same time period. She showed her work locally and regionally with regularity. Her work was celebrated by significant solo exhibitions at the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte, North Carolina. The process of mining local histories yields the legacies of talented artists who have often been discarded from mainstream narratives. When one engages deeper with Leeper’s work, it is not difficult to conclude that her myriad two- and three-dimensional works are worthy of not only a local, but a national story.]]>
Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.]]> Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.]]> Art Pioneers Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Atlantic Center for the Arts and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Leeper’s painting evolved from representational to non-objective over time. She embraced a language of abstraction more typical of the prevailing New York art world in the 1960 and 1970s, as opposed to the dominant aesthetic in Florida during the same time period. She showed her work locally and regionally with regularity. Her work was celebrated by significant solo exhibitions at the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte, North Carolina. The process of mining local histories yields the legacies of talented artists who have often been discarded from mainstream narratives. When one engages deeper with Leeper’s work, it is not difficult to conclude that her myriad two- and three-dimensional works are worthy of not only a local, but a national story.]]>
Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Winter Park, Florida.]]> Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Winter Park, Florida.]]> Art Legends of Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Cornell Fine Arts Museum and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>
Receptualistic Pyramid, a sculpture by Johann Eyfells. Eyfells was born in Reykjavík, Iceland, in 1923. Eyfells works with a variety of media, including metal, wood, paper, plastic, and cloth, in an effort to document the interaction between time, space, and gravity. Many of his sculptures are minimal and non-objective, resembling lava or geological formations. In the 1960s, he developed the concept of Receptualism, the practice of portraying original ideas visually using non-representative and abstract forms. Eyfells considers himself more of an experimental chemist than a sculptor.

Eyfells worked as an architect, artist, and teacher in Iceland before relocating to the United States. During his studies at the University of California, Berkeley, Eyfells met Kristin Halldorsdottir, a former Icelandic model and dress designer. They married in 1949 and moved to Florida together to complete their studies in 1969. Eyfells finished his degree in architecture in 1953, and in 1964, he earned a master’s degree in fine arts. In 1969, he joined the art department of the Florida Technological University (present-day University of Central Florida) and taught there for over 30 years. On retirement, he moved to Fredericksburg, Texas.]]>
Crealdé School of Art, Winter Park.]]> Crealdé School of Art, Winter Park.]]> Art Legends of Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Crealdé© School of Art and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Eyfells worked as an architect, artist, and teacher in Iceland before relocating to the United States. During his studies at the University of California, Berkeley, Eyfells met Kristin Halldorsdottir, a former Icelandic model and dress designer. They married in 1949 and moved to Florida together to complete their studies in 1969. Eyfells finished his degree in architecture in 1953, and in 1964, he earned a master’s degree in fine arts. In 1969, he joined the art department of the Florida Technological University (present-day University of Central Florida) and taught there for over 30 years. On retirement, he moved to Fredericksburg, Texas.]]>
Orange County Commission Chambers, Orlando, Florida.]]> Orange County Commission Chambers, Orlando, Florida.]]> Art Legends of Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Orange County Commission Chambers and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>
The Power of Passage, a sculpture created by Johann Eyfells in 1987. Eyfells was born in Reykjavík, Iceland, in 1923. Eyfells works with a variety of media, including metal, wood, paper, plastic, and cloth, in an effort to document the interaction between time, space, and gravity. Many of his sculptures are minimal and non-objective, resembling lava or geological formations. In the 1960s, he developed the concept of Receptualism, the practice of portraying original ideas visually using non-representative and abstract forms. Eyfells considers himself more of an experimental chemist than a sculptor.

Eyfells worked as an architect, artist, and teacher in Iceland before relocating to the United States. During his studies at Berkeley, Eyfells met Kristin Halldorsdottir, a former Icelandic model and dress designer. They married in 1949 and moved to Florida together to complete their studies in 1969. Eyfells finished his degree in architecture in 1953, and in 1964, he earned a master’s degree in fine arts. In 1969, he joined the art department of the Florida Technological Institute (present-day University of Central Florida) and taught there for over 30 years. On retirement, he moved to Fredericksburg, Texas.]]>
University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> Art Legends of Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> University of Central Florida and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Leeper’s painting evolved from representational to non-objective over time. She embraced a language of abstraction more typical of the prevailing New York art world in the 1960 and 1970s, as opposed to the dominant aesthetic in Florida during the same time period. She showed her work locally and regionally with regularity. Her work was celebrated by significant solo exhibitions at the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte, North Carolina. The process of mining local histories yields the legacies of talented artists who have often been discarded from mainstream narratives. When one engages deeper with Leeper’s work, it is not difficult to conclude that her myriad two- and three-dimensional works are worthy of not only a local, but a national story.]]>
Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.]]> Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.]]> Art Pioneers Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Atlantic Center for the Arts and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Leeper’s painting evolved from representational to non-objective over time. She embraced a language of abstraction more typical of the prevailing New York art world in the 1960 and 1970s, as opposed to the dominant aesthetic in Florida during the same time period. She showed her work locally and regionally with regularity. Her work was celebrated by significant solo exhibitions at the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte, North Carolina. The process of mining local histories yields the legacies of talented artists who have often been discarded from mainstream narratives. When one engages deeper with Leeper’s work, it is not difficult to conclude that her myriad two- and three-dimensional works are worthy of not only a local, but a national story.]]>
Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.]]> Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.]]> Art Pioneers Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Atlantic Center for the Arts and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

With an artistic career lasting over 60 years, Hal McIntosh’s influence on our community is profound. His bold abstractions, tranquil waterscapes, and stirring portraiture, all masterfully painted with a touch of McIntosh’s signature Orientalism, have been widely exhibited in the area and are part of numerous regional collections, both private and public. Deep connections with the people and places of Orange County have allowed McIntosh to join the ranks as one of the greats and to be remembered eternally as an Art Legend.

In this oral history interview, McIntosh discusses his early life and education, his teaching philosophy, and where he gets the inspiration and influence for his art. He also mentions his relationship with Albin Polasek and Emily Muska Kubat Polasek. Eric Varty, a close friend of Hal, also contributes briefly to the conversation.]]>
0:03:01 Life as an artist
0:09:16 Galleries in Winter Park
0:14:35 Galleries in Naples
0:22:58 Galleries in Cape Cod, Massachusetts
0:25:30 Edward Hopper
0:29:11 Teaching philosophy
0:38:12 Audience perception
0:41:03 Inspiration
0:47:12 Winter Park Arts Festival and commission
0:54:27 Albin Polasek and Emily Muska Kubat Polasek
1:03:54 Maitland Research Studio and Jules Andre Smith
1:06:29 Closing remarks]]>
Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, Winter Park, Florida.]]> Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, Winter Park, Florida.]]> Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, Winter Park, Florida.
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Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens Collection, Winter Park Collection, Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Flash Player]]> Java]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>
Untitled (Tondo), an oil on masonite painting created by Doris Marie Leeper around 1960. Known to many as "Doc," Leeper was a trailblazing abstract painter and sculptor based in Eldora, Florida near New Smyrna Beach. Originally from North Carolina, Leeper found an artistic oasis in Central Florida. The region provided her with the space to buy a house and work in relative isolation, but also augmented her interest in natural preservation. Today, the Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve remains a testament to her environmental dedication. Leeper’s impact on Central Florida also became apparent through her support for institutions; for example, she was a founder of the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach. Leeper’s local legacy manifests itself most profoundly through her artistic production. Her bold lines, strong color palette, and propensity for clean lines aesthetically aligned her with minimalism.

Leeper’s painting evolved from representational to non-objective over time. She embraced a language of abstraction more typical of the prevailing New York art world in the 1960 and 1970s, as opposed to the dominant aesthetic in Florida during the same time period. She showed her work locally and regionally with regularity. Her work was celebrated by significant solo exhibitions at the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte, North Carolina. The process of mining local histories yields the legacies of talented artists who have often been discarded from mainstream narratives. When one engages deeper with Leeper’s work, it is not difficult to conclude that her myriad two- and three-dimensional works are worthy of not only a local, but a national story.]]>
Untitled (Tondo): item 1995.13, Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Winter Park, Florida.]]> Untitled (Tondo).]]> Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Winter Park, Florida.]]> Art Legends of Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Cornell Fine Arts Museum by Dyer Moss in 1961.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>