Frank Sydney Spears
Encyclopedia
Frank Sydney Spears was a South Africa
n artist. He was born in Walsall
, Staffordshire
, England
.
He arrived in South Africa
as a designer for Brimble and Briggs Ltd. in 1928. He established a high profile as an artist, broadcaster and actor, also known for his success in business activities and as a designer of boats.
His early painting style was impressionistic, and his work was referred to, along with that of Sydney Carter (qv.), as "staid, stuffy and provincial" (Lewis, 1946:25). He was elected President of the South African Society of Artists (SASA) in 1945 after first joining in 1934. In 1949, he travelled in the USA, and his style changed in response to the growing orthodoxy of abstraction there. In the 1950s he began to experiment with non-figuration, but was unable to relinquish his attachment to figurative elements. A personal mysticism began to shape much of his thought and he became interested in the relationship of painting, poetry and music.
This was well received by critics bored by the conservatism of SASA exhibitions in the 1940s. He was specially commended on the SASA Members' Exhibition of 1950 as follows: "Undoubtedly the best thing on the show is a smallish canvas 'Eileen Joyce
plays Chopin
', by Frank Spears. Here is a genuine attempt to interpret a musical theme in terms of paint; one feels the spirit of action in the moving chords placed in a flowing design" (P.H.W.: The Cape Times: 31.8.1950). Spears's handling of paint was thought by Berman to be analogous to that of Jean Welz (1900–1975): "His concepts are usually quiet and undramatic; still life and flower studies form a large part of his oeuvre. His palette is restrained, with distinctive use of ochres and warm pinkish tones, frequently accented by a characteristic note of Cerulean blue" (1983:434). Roses, from the SANG Permanent Collection, is typical of his later flower-pieces that were much admired. Spears retired in 1968 and in 1969 returned to England, but continued to exhibit in SA thereafter.
Spears designed the rose window
for the south transept
of St. George's Cathedral, Cape Town
, South Africa. This was created by Francis Skeat
to Spears' design and was erected in 1957.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n artist. He was born in Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
He arrived in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
as a designer for Brimble and Briggs Ltd. in 1928. He established a high profile as an artist, broadcaster and actor, also known for his success in business activities and as a designer of boats.
His early painting style was impressionistic, and his work was referred to, along with that of Sydney Carter (qv.), as "staid, stuffy and provincial" (Lewis, 1946:25). He was elected President of the South African Society of Artists (SASA) in 1945 after first joining in 1934. In 1949, he travelled in the USA, and his style changed in response to the growing orthodoxy of abstraction there. In the 1950s he began to experiment with non-figuration, but was unable to relinquish his attachment to figurative elements. A personal mysticism began to shape much of his thought and he became interested in the relationship of painting, poetry and music.
This was well received by critics bored by the conservatism of SASA exhibitions in the 1940s. He was specially commended on the SASA Members' Exhibition of 1950 as follows: "Undoubtedly the best thing on the show is a smallish canvas 'Eileen Joyce
Eileen Joyce
Eileen Alannah Joyce CMG was an Australian pianist whose career spanned more than 30 years. She lived in England in her adult years....
plays Chopin
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music and has been called "the poet of the piano"....
', by Frank Spears. Here is a genuine attempt to interpret a musical theme in terms of paint; one feels the spirit of action in the moving chords placed in a flowing design" (P.H.W.: The Cape Times: 31.8.1950). Spears's handling of paint was thought by Berman to be analogous to that of Jean Welz (1900–1975): "His concepts are usually quiet and undramatic; still life and flower studies form a large part of his oeuvre. His palette is restrained, with distinctive use of ochres and warm pinkish tones, frequently accented by a characteristic note of Cerulean blue" (1983:434). Roses, from the SANG Permanent Collection, is typical of his later flower-pieces that were much admired. Spears retired in 1968 and in 1969 returned to England, but continued to exhibit in SA thereafter.
Spears designed the rose window
Rose window
A Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in churches of the Gothic architectural style and being divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery...
for the south transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
of St. George's Cathedral, Cape Town
St. George's Cathedral, Cape Town
St George's Cathedral is the Anglican cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cape Town....
, South Africa. This was created by Francis Skeat
Francis Skeat
Francis Walter Skeat is an English glass painter who has created over 400 stained glass windows in churches and cathedrals, both in England and overseas. Skeat is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Fellow of the British Society of Master Glass Painters, and a member of the Art Workers...
to Spears' design and was erected in 1957.