The Triangle

Issue date: 10/22/04 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Hyder Galleries [Click to enlarge]

I was told by a friend, who works with a cultural organization in Philadelphia, about this person who had just opened an art gallery next to the I-95 and Spring Garden's EL Station. I wanted to interview this person and two more painters who are influenced by Latin-American art. First, the location of the gallery intrigued me, since it is unusual; second, I was curious about this American-born person and his interest in Latin American art, a rare case, at least in Philadelphia.

Getting there was a bit complicated because I got the wrong address. Hyder International Gallery is located on 629 N. 2nd St. I was glad, though, that it was a mild summer, sinec I had to do a lot of walking to get there. When I finally arrived at Hyder Gallery, I was welcomed by Henry Bermúdez (not a relative of mine) who has also worked with Frank Hyder, owner and founder of the art gallery.

I was headed for an interview about the gallery, but I never thought that the journey was going to be more than just looking at a few new paintings. Bermúdez showed me around the first floor. From front to back the walls were recently painted in white, giving a great contrast with the paintings.

Bermúdez said that Hyder was busy talking on the phone and he was coming any minute. I thought it was fair to wait for him, since they waited for me. In the meantime, I lingered in the gallery carefully looking at the paintings. Although, I know little about fine art, especially paintings, I could definitely see the personal style in each work.

Apparently, Hyder told Bermúdez to show me the rest of the house. I didn't know, until Bermudez told me that Hyder and his family live in the same house where the gallery is located.

It wasn't until I got to see the entire second and third floors that I knew why they wanted me to see everything. Walking up and down through this house is literally walking through an artist's mind. Any fine art scholar would want a house with so much space and so much creativity floating in the air.

This ever-presence of art was not only because of the gallery, but also because of the balance of colors and furniture around the house.

Continued...

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