The Hillstrom Museum is currently displaying two exhibits, one of which is Submerge, Recent Paintings by Betsy Ruth Byers.

Byers joined the Art and Art History department as a faculty artist  in 2011 after she received an MFA degree in painting from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

Byer’s paintings in the exhibition were made possible through the generous support of the Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant and the Research, Scholarship and Creativity Grant.

“I hope my work is able to engage the viewer’s senses and transport them in space and time,” Byers said.

Her exhibition is a mixture of oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings.

“My studio practice explores the engagement of the body’s senses with the surrounding environment. I am compelled to make work that focuses on wilderness experiences due to my growing fear over our disconnectedness to the natural world,” Byers said. “I find that I repeatedly return to water as the way to understand and to contextualize my presence in our hectic and hyper-paced world.”

Byers grew up in Northern Minnesota. The influence of years spent growing up around lakes is evident in her work. The paintings in Submerge are inspired by Lakes Superior’s surface, islands, rocks and shoreline. The title of her exhibit can be traced back to water as well.

“The act of submerging indicates a willingness to let go and to be consumed by something larger than oneself. Painting requires a similar fearlessness to the act of diving under the surface,” Byers said.

One of the works of art on display is “Upheaval”, which was created from a photograph of the arches below Devil’s Island that Byers took during her stay at the Apostle Islands.

“The work is meant to create multiple experiences of the movement of water, both falling down and receding into the darker void/space in the background. I was interested in playing with how making a painting could reflect the action of erosion. I wanted to evoke the sound of water dripping,” Byers said. “The painting was created through multiple layers of oil paint, originally allowing the linseed oil to push the material to run down the canvas. Later, I worked back into the painting to create a stronger, more solid area at the top of the painting, and a reflective surface at the bottom.”

Byers teaches at Gustavus and encourages aspiring artists to dedicate time for their work.

“Carve out the time for making your art every week. Being an artist is difficult, but extremely rewarding. It requires a lot of hard work and persistence. It also demands taking risks and being open to criticism. Don’t be afraid to show others your work and be mindful of the privilege that making art offers you,” Byers said.

Two students who have had Byers in class are Senior Art Studio majors Mia Cannon and Lauren Schiltz.

“Out of all the professors I’ve had at Gustavus over the past four years, Betsy is one of the best and most influential. Betsy uses her classes to not only increase a student’s understanding of their own artistic style but to grow their perspective on life. Her encouragement to take risks has impacted me the most when it comes to producing art. Betsy has allowed me to experiment and to attempt concepts  that even she was skeptical would work. To me, that marks the true quality of an educator. One that supports, not limits, the passion of her students,” Cannon said.

Schiltz agreed that Byers made her a better artist than she was before.

“Betsy has pushed me to make pieces I never thought were possible. If freshman me were to see the pieces senior me has created, I would never believe they were mine. Betsy has pushed me to go bigger and bolder, while still remaining true to my personality and style,” Schiltz said. “Ultimately, Betsy doesn’t let you go half way; she has pushed me when I thought I couldn’t stretch any further, but I’m much better for it and I owe her a lot.”

Byers is a great representation of the faculty at Gustavus. She is a success in her own field who inspires her students.

“Betsy’s art and teaching have completely changed my understanding and appreciation of abstract art. She’s fun and so enthusiastic that you can’t help but smile with her. She makes you feel like you can conquer the world,” Schiltz said.

Byers touches the lives of her students by guiding them to discover who they are as an artist and becoming the best they can be.

“Betsy has the ability to empower her students unlike anything I’ve experienced before. Her support and confidence in who they are as individuals and their potential as artists never wavers. Her genuine, down-to-earth, caring personality builds  a high level of trust,” Cannon said. “Whenever I meet someone who has not fulfilled their ART credit, I always tell them to take it with Betsy Byers. It brings tears to my eyes when I think about not being in class with her. I will graduate with my life changed because of who she is as an individual and the lessons I have learned from her passion as an educator.”

The museum is free of charge and the artwork is on display from Feb. 15 to Apr. 24. There is a brochure for the exhibit and many of Byer’s pieces are available for sale.