University of the Ozarks senior Dereana Pfeiffer, an art major from Clarksville, will present her senior art exhibit, "Released," from Dec. 10-13 in the Stephens Art Gallery.
There will be a reception to meet the artist from 7-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11, in the gallery, which is located in the Walton Fine Arts Center. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
Pfeiffer, who is graduating from Ozarks on Dec. 12, said that in the development of her artwork in Released, her goal was to create pieces of a story.
"Stories are the exploration of the mind and artwork is the visualization of them," she said. "This story is about separating you from the pains of the world and releasing yourself into a world of peace, contentment, and love. It is easy to understand in this world that depression, anxiety, and anger are able to capture and take hold of all. Our past experiences trap us in the hold of wickedness that the world has created. I believe that I was created by God, I believe that He did not create depression, anxiety, and anger, but instead every human being was given freedom of choice with these emotions."
Through the integration of mixed media, Pfeiffer believes her artwork engulfs the viewer and allows them to be part of the character’s journey.
"Each artwork is essential to the process of fully understanding what this character is going through and feeling," she said. "As part of this process the viewer will read a line from the poem, describing the character, which has become part of each composition. This work is very personal to me. I feel as though I understand what it is like to be of the world, which is a completely different context than being or living in the world. Being out of the world is not something that comes easily. It is more likely that every single person has been of the world, it is what makes us human. Going through this process to visualize the journey and seeing the final product will make this project a part of my life."
One of Pfeiffer’s artworks it titled "My Little Zoe."
"I drew what I believe my daughter, Zoe, will look like," she said. "I want to have a ‘Zoe’ someday and I feel she will bring me the most peace as my husband and I raise her to understand that she is precious and very important to our lives. There is healing when there is peace and Zoe will be part of the equation that brings about that peace."
Pfeiffer said her exhibit’s title, Released, is a testament to the life lessons she has learned.
"Through the world I have learned what it’s like to be released," she said. "I wish it for every person who goes through troubling and depressing times. There is healing in being a separate entity from the world. There is joy, there is happiness, and above all there is peace in knowing that everything is going to be all right. Understanding and acknowledging that every situation, challenge, and struggle will give us experience that will later be useful in overcoming other challenges is the greatest blessing that everyone could be offered by this ‘release.’"
Dereana Pfeiffer’s artwork, My Little Zoe” will be one of the pieces on display during Pfeiffer’s senior art exhibit, scheduled for Dec. 10-13 in the Stephens Art Gallery.
Topics: Art