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Paul Boyer
Hatteberg's People
Reporter: Larry Hatteberg
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October 2, 2005--Great art from great minds can be found in the most unlikely places – Belleville, KS for example. Paul Boyer created animated sculptures that are marvels of engineering and art. |
“It’s something I don’t think you would see anywhere else in the world. We’ve had people from all over the world in here and they say they’ve never seen anything like it.”
“He says his brain is the size of a walnut and it’s full of gears. That’s how he describes himself.”
Incredible aren’t’ they. For the past sixty years Paul Boyer has created this animated artwork from a combination of caring and mechanics. In 1965 Paul was hit by a car, confined to a wheelchair, but found his creative bent in the creation of these sculptures. |
It’s probably the most unusual place you’ll ever find. As far as the displays, you’ll never see anything like it.”
It is here in Belleville, Kansas, close to the Nebraska border where the Boyer Gallery stands….but perhaps for not much longer. |
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| “It’s a family treasure actually.”
Now aging and in ill health, Paul leaves the running of a museum that houses his work to his brother, John Boyer.
“It takes a lot of patience which he has, and he has real good use of his hands. I like to watch him work on the wires and stuff. He can get in there and adjust stuff, it’s real interesting to watch him work.”
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“It needs to be displayed, it’s one of the things my wife and I had done on our own is to get this setup where he could display his stuff. It’s been fun, we’ve really enjoyed being here and meeting the people, and it’s hard to say we’re going to have to quit. It’s hard to do.” |
The question is, what happens to these one of a kind artworks?
“Beautiful.”
It is possible the city of Belleville may take them, if grant money can be found for acquisition. But for the time being, these eclectic and one of a kind works can still be seen and admired, at least for the next month or so. |
“He’ll never sell anything, it’s just part of him and he wants it to stay here, if nothing happens, it will all go back to his house.”
Some have asked if his work is for sale? |
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“He just laughs at them and says what would I do with money? He’s disabled, can’t go anywhere, price doesn’t’ make any difference to him.
It is one man’s art, with an uncertain future.
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The Boyer Gallery is located in Belleville, Kansas in Republic County, that’s straight North of Wichita almost to the Nebraska border. The gallery will be open on weekends through October.
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