Date:
1/6/2011
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 575.562.2253
For more information, contact Hahn at 575-562-2778 or bryan.hahn@enmu.edu.
Eastern New Mexico University is hosting the art exhibit "Snow on the Window Pane" by Andrew Merritt at Runnels Gallery through Wednesday, Feb. 2 during the regular hours of Golden Library on the Portales campus. Merritt is an independent artist creating and selling his work from his gallery space, The Underground Embassy, in Clovis.
Bryan Hahn, secretary in the ENMU art department, notes that Runnels Gallery is not solely for those affiliated with Eastern. "The Runnels Gallery supports more than just the campus community. It also supports the surrounding area of Clovis and Portales. It is vital that we take every opportunity possible to connect people with art," he says.
Hahn notes the uniqueness of this show in the size of the work. Many of Merritt’s creations will cover a wall in a home. "I like to believe that if it’s a good conceptual idea behind the painting, than it deserves the right amount of space for the idea, or at least in proportion," says Merritt. "If the painting is a message that I would like to convey, then I try to make it a size which the message deserves and that people will take note of."
According to Merritt, the length of creation of some of the artwork is like "an endurance race against my brain." Some paintings are the result of three months of continuous work and "living on a couch a few feet from the work itself."
The Clovis artisan uses various unorthodox techniques such as taking his art to the firing range to create his finished pieces. Other media he uses to create his pieces include black paint "because an art teacher once told me not to," and pieces of hymnals. Merritt also uses elements which will make the painting feel more "organic" and natural to the audience. "Using a lot of texture is an important part of my work, too. It makes the viewer want to touch the painting, and therefore bringing their subconscious closer to the message at hand," although touching the paintings is not allowed for the showing.
Merritt uses his art to talk about common themes in non-literal forms "It sounds a bit cliché, but love is a common message. I think people have forgotten what a powerful thing this little spark of an emotion can be, and what a flame it can ignite," says Merritt. Faith, steadfastness and freedom in its many forms are also evident in his work.
Merritt hopes people will view his art and "take the positive messages from my work and apply it to how it would best serve them."
To view more of his work and "making of" videos, visit www.drewmerritt.com.