The Alabama Center for the Arts is pleased to announce its newest exhibit, “A Sense of Place” featuring the artwork of Gary Anderson and Dariana Dervis. The show will open in the Main Gallery on September 28 and will remain on display until November 3. There will be an artist reception on Thursday, October 12 at 5:30 pm.
Gary Anderson attended high school in Limestone County, Alabama and worked on the school newspaper and yearbook after his teachers noticed his creative tendencies. This led him to study commercial art in college and take several art classes in the process of obtaining his degree. Anderson graduated from Athens State University with a major in art and a minor in computer science. Since graduation, he has worked in Huntsville, Alabama as a technical illustrator, publications manager, animator, and web designer.
Anderson uses an oil painting technique that involves slowly building up layers of semi-transparent paint to create a realistic image. Photography is a major influence of his art. Ideas for his paintings come from photos that he gathers of family, friends, and outdoor activities. His goal is to enjoy the beauty of the Tennessee Valley with paint and brushes.
Deeply inspired by nature, Dariana Dervis delights in mining beauty from the ordinary to create the extraordinary. Paper, found objects, ephemera and thread are given new life and meaning as they are incorporated into mixed media collages. A visual dialog and juxtaposition of past and present elements creates a piece greater than the sum of its individual parts.
Dervis’ art often expresses what she cannot readily find words for. She believes art has the power to heal both the maker and the viewer. Dervis thinks of herself as a visual storyteller and collector. Her artwork explores the ways we are connected to the landscapes in which we live and also to one another. With a BFA from the University of Montevallo, she currently works as both fine artist and graphic designer in Birmingham, Alabama.
“A Sense of Place” is free and open to the public. The Alabama Center for the Arts is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm and on Friday from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm.