Exhibit by Alumnus Derek Overfield Continues Through Sept. 30
An opening reception is planned for the Derek Overfield Alumnus Exhibition on Tuesday, Sept. 8, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Brooks Gallery of Wallman Hall. The artist will give a gallery talk. The reception is free and open to the public.
Overfield is a figure painter who lives in Fairmont. He graduated from Fairmont State University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Graphics/Fine Arts. Both as a student and as a professional artist, he has won numerous awards, including "Best of Show" for two years at FSU. His work was published in Whetstone, a journal produced by the FSU Department of Language and Literature. He was their featured artist in 2006.
In 2004, Overfield's work was featured in the group exhibition "Emerging" at the Callen McJunkin Gallery in Charleston. In 2004 and 2005, he contributed to the group exhibition "The Figure Head to Toe" at Cooper Gallery in Lewisburg. His work was also included in "Creative Drive" at the Hammond Harkin Gallery in Columbus, Ohio, and "Step Closer" at the Gallery RFD in Swainsboro, Ga. Most recently, his work was featured in the "Best of West Virginia" exhibition at Tamarack Gallery in Beckley and is currently on view at the "Emerging Artists of West Virginia" exhibit at the West Virginia State Museum in Charleston, where he took second place.
In October, Overfield's work will be included in the "WV Juried Exhibition" at the Huntington Museum of Art in Huntington. His latest solo exhibition is "New Paintings in Enamel." It was exhibited at Gallery 62 West in Grafton and will be on display at the Robert C. Byrd Federal Building in Charleston during March and April 2010.
In his artist's statement, Overfield says: "My work seeks to elevate and highlight the human figure, while exploring elements of freedom, honesty and strength. Through simplicity of composition and economy of elements, I hope to achieve this elevation. I strive to create figures that are devoid of unnecessary ornamentation and are pure-both visually and conceptually.
"I seek to explore concepts of power and stillness in relation to the human form, as well as the strength of the human will. Like a compressed spring, the figures are intended to exhibit a metaphysical potential energy, a capability to act or move. I attempt to capture the powerful entity that is the human mind/body/will combination. My work also explores the forces applied to and engaging the figures through visual tension. Metaphysical gravity is one such force that provides the figures with their sculptural heaviness. Their weight is an attempt to reflect the weight of mankind's existence, further exhibiting the strength of the will.
"These paintings are process driven, with the act of studying and responding to the figure playing a large role. Also highly important to my work are simplicity, urgency and spontaneity. I work from life to seize a moment and the vitality and energy of the figure. I encourage the viewer to step closer and explore the personal signature of each stroke and the spontaneous effects of paint, water, freedom and reverence of the human form."
The exhibit runs through Sept. 30. The Brooks Gallery is open Mondays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call Curator Marian Hollinger at (304) 367-4300.
