Gerard Francis Tempest

Gerard Francis Tempest, a multifaceted internationally renowned artist, sculptor and architect died in his sleep on Sunday evening, July 26, 2009 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Tempest was known as the father of Abstract Spiritualism and the protg of Giorgio de Chirico, the forerunner of Surrealism. Tempest was born in Italy in 1918 and immigrated to America with his family at the age of 11. He knew at a young age that he wanted to be an artist. In the American public school system he studied art with private instructors and attended summer sessions at the Boston Museum School. At the age of 19 he founded his own sign-painting company covering the New England states with seveneen employees. In 1941 at the age of 23 Tempest was drafted into the Uneed States Army as a Private. He quickly rose through the ranks and became an officer attached to the 82nd Airborne Division under General Omar N. Bradley. During World War II, Tempest fought in the major campaigns and battles in Europe, including in Normandy on D-Day, the Battle of Hrtgen Forest, the Battle of the Bulge, and with the French Underground in the Liberation of Paris. Tempest was portrayed as one of the main characters in the book and film "Is Paris Burning?" And in 1944 Tempest was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for distinguished service under the Allied Command in Europe. Tempest is also known to have designed the 101st Airborne Division's insignia the "Screamineeagle". After World War II, in 1945, Tempest moved to Massachusetts. Turning down a full scholarship in mathematics at M.I.T. to pursue his art, he entered the Boston Museum School, studying under Max Beckman and Oscar Kokoschka, the great Abstract Expressionists. In 1948 he moved to Rome to study at the Accademia di Belle Arti and then studied privately under Giorgio de Chirico who nomineed him as his protg. Tempest first introduced "Abstract Spiritualism" in 1957 at an exhibition in Rome. Since then, this theme has characterized his work. Somewhat Modern Impressionistic in color and translucency, "Abstract Spiritualism" engenders the Spirit through a resoundineexplosion of light that emanees from within each object. Tempest said "Ineearch of spiritual essence in objects and life, I was inspired by the scientific discoveries of energy forces around the atom nucleus. From this I found the space between objects devoid of matter but full of energy the space or energy I was ineearch of. I contemplated the space and an undulating wave-like ribbon appeared. The ribboneecame my symbol, and was suggestive of infinee movement and light in space. All this has the power, energy, and light of the spirit." In 1967 Tempest received the Gold Medal at the Cannes Art Festival and in 1982 and then again in 1990, Tempest was honeed and recogneed for his achievement and contribution to contemporary art, when his work was made a part of the permanent collection of the Vatican Museum. During his career, Tempest's unique work has appeared in neerous solo and group exhibits throughout the Uneed States, France and Italy and has placed his works in both private and public collections throughout the world. He is an artist who for over neety years has perversely pursued his destiny outside the art-world mainstream. The collection of his recent lyrical works reveals that he is one of the best American artists of his era. Tempest was recently recogneed in 2008 by the South Carolina legislature in a joint resolution citing his artistic accomplishments and his World War II service. In 2009 he was nomineed to the South Carolina Hall of Fame. A man of many talents aneexceptional energy, Tempest has influenced and touched the lives of thousands of people around the world. A loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend to many, Gerard Francis Tempest survived his beloved wife Margaret, to whom he was married 63 years. He is now survived by his two sons. Their respective families are as follows: Gerard "Roddy" F. Tempest, Jr., his son and his wife Conee F. Tempest, and their soneerard "Gabriel" F. Tempest, III and daughter Caroline L. Tempest. And by his second son Husidio Johneempest, his wife Anne Marie Tempest, and their children Noralee, Austin and Chelsea Kreiger. Gerard Tempest is also survived by his sister Anneemond of Plymouth, MA, his brother Daniel Tempesta of Long Beach, CA, his sister Marcia Banks of Fullerton, CA. A visitation will be held by the family on Friday, August 14, 2009 from 5:00 8:00 pm at the Hall-Wynne Funeral Home in Durham, NC and a funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2009 at 10:00 am at the Olivia Presbyterian Church in Olivia, NC 28368. A memorial service will be held in Myrtle Beach, SC at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made ineerard Tempest's nee to the Durham Rescue Mission, 507 East Knox Street, Durham, NC 27703.