Beverly Hallam, Birds of Paradise I. Cibachrome, 9.5 x 14 in. Courtesy of Surf Point.
This program is co-sponsored by Surf Point and York Public Library.
In his illustrated talk, art critic and author Carl Little will revisit the life and art of Beverly Hallam (1923-2013). Little will highlight Hallam, the innovator, who explored cutting-edge techniques, from acrylic to computer graphics. He will also share personal reminiscences related to his book, Beverly Hallam: An Odyssey in Art, and thoughts on Hallam’s legacy as an advocate for artists.
Carl Little's book will be available for sale, and signing after his presentation.
All are invited to an exhibition of Beverly Hallam's work on the Upper Level of York Public Library before this program begins at 2:00 PM. The library is open from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Those attending the program may then stay for the talk by Carl Little.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
This event is part of a Surf Point partnership with the York Public Library exploring the exhibition Beverly Hallam: Chasing Light open from May 13 through August 27, 2025 at the York Public Library. This exhibition celebrates the visionary work of Beverly Hallam (1923–2013), a vital member of Ogunquit’s art community and a pioneering contemporary realist. Known for her innovative mastery across media, Hallam seamlessly integrated photography into her paintings and prints, shaping her luminous compositions. From coastal scenes to floral still lifes to digital abstractions, this exhibition explores Hallam’s lifelong use of photography in her pursuit to capture and express the elusive nature of light.
Curated by Kristina Durocher, Beverly Hallam: Chasing Light presents more than 30 prints, paintings and photographs drawn from the visual archives of Surf Point, York, Maine.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR/PRESENTER - CARL LITTLE
Born in New York City, Little holds degrees from Dartmouth, Columbia and Middlebury. He is the author of a number of art books, including The Watercolors of John Singer Sargent and Edward Hopper’s New England, as well as monographs on Dahlov Ipcar, Eric Hopkins, William Irvine, Irene Olivieri, Beverly Hallam, John Moore, and other artists. Little writes for a range of publications, including Art New England, Hyperallergic, Maine Arts Journal, and Ornament. His second collection of poems, Blanket of the Night, came out in 2024. In 2021 the Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation honored Little with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his art writing.
ABOUT SURF POINT
Founded by philanthropist Mary-Leigh Smart (1917-2017) and artist Beverly Hallam (1923-2013) and launched in 2019, Surf Point is a nonprofit organization on the coast of York, Maine that supports diverse visual artists and art workers through a residency program; stewards 46 acres of coastal and forested land; hosts public programs; and promotes our history legacy.
ABOUT BEVERLY HALLAM
Beverly Linney Hallam was born in 1923 in Lynn, Massachusetts. She was educated at the Massachusetts College of Art and then taught at Lasell Junior College, where she was chair of the Art Department until 1949. In 1953 she received her M.F.A. at Syracuse University where she wrote her thesis on the use of polyvinyl acetate—the medium that would become known as “acrylic” and which Hallam would pioneer through her painting practice. From 1949 to 1962 Hallam was professor at the Massachusetts College of Art, where she taught painting, drawing and design, and photography. She was particularly well known as a printmaker, and for her large-scale airbrush paintings of flowers.
BEVERLY HALLAM AND SURF POINT, YORK MAINE
In the late 1980s, arts patron Mary-Leigh Call Smart and artist Beverly Hallam envisioned a residency for artists and arts professionals in their home upon their passing. Mary-Leigh Smart (1917-2017) was a passionate supporter and collector of Maine-based institutions and artists. Co-founder of the Barn Gallery with her late husband J. Scott Smart, she was also affiliated with the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Farnsworth Museum, Ogunquit Museum of American Art, Portland Museum of Art, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, University of New England, University of New Hampshire and Wellesley College.
Her friend Beverly Hallam (1923-2013) taught at Mass College of Art and moved to Maine in 1963 to work full time as an artist. An early experimenter with acrylics, she produced a wide range of works in many media including painting, photography, and graphic arts. Her key papers and notebooks are housed within the Smithsonian's Archives of American Art. A film was made about her work as part of the Maine Masters film series and Beverly Hallam: An Odyssey in Art by Carl Little illustrates her life and work.
With architects Carter + Woodruff, Mary-Leigh and Beverly designed their dream home known as “Surf Point,” and lived there from 1971 until their deaths. The building is set within nearly 50 acres of coast and woods protected by a conservation easement stewarded by the York Land Trust.
Inspired by artist communities in Ogunquit, ME and MacDowell, NH, arts patron Smart and artist Hallam provided in their wills that Surf Point be a retreat for artists. In 1973, they invited writer May Sarton to live and work in another dwelling on the property. In the 24 years Sarton remained there until she died in 1997, Sarton wrote some of her most important books and cultivated a stunning garden.