When viewing any work of art, we each have a level of appreciation that takes place.

We might see ourselves in the work, the craftsmanship is remarkable, or we like the subject and style. We can value a work of art for its historical place in history or maybe the work shows us something we have not seen or thought about.

No matter what reason we value works of art or the content of an artist’s work, a successful work of art must have inherent formal qualities that support a visual balance.

An aesthetic appreciation was immediate in 2022 when I saw a body of work by Chapel Hill artist Deb Drew in the 10:10:10 exhibit at the Fayetteville Arts Council.

The mix of natural and painted woods and earth colors, the figure is stylized in shapes of color and texture against an abstracted background. At the bottom of the panel, the artist included one word in a material that was slightly raised off the surface of the panel.

No matter what the word or subject, each panel exuded a sense of completeness or joyfulness.

After meeting the artist, I invited her to exhibit at Gallery 208. Several months later we talked on the phone.

One year later, the artist’s reception for Themes of Joy and Transformation: Mixed Media by Deb Drew opens in Gallery 208, Thursday, Oct. 5. The reception will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

As the curator of the exhibit, the call to Drew, which took place several months after meeting her, became a turning point in what would be selected for exhibitions at Gallery 208. This is the first exhibit in the twelve years of curating Gallery 208 that an artist is exhibiting work inspired by religious faith.

Why is that? First and foremost, an artist with faith-based works has not approached Gallery 208 for an exhibit. But there are other factors.

Although contemporary art culture tries to acknowledge and support diversity, it is still strongly influenced by popular styles. The result is artists align themselves with current trends or market demands. This influence also has the potential to marginalize religious themes in favor of popular and commercially viable subjects.

Drew, like all artists, explores themes and symbols as a means of communicating a feeling or an idea. For this artist, themes and symbols are a way to express her spirituality by incorporating modern techniques and perspectives to create fresh and thought-provoking artworks.

Ultimately, religious art in the 21st century continues to serve multiple purposes, from personal expression and spiritual practice to cultural preservation and education.

It remains a vibrant and evolving aspect of the art world, reflecting the enduring significance of religion in
human culture and society.

Deb Drew is an accomplished artist and educator. She earned a Ph.D. in Art Education at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio after earning an MA in Art Education at the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana, Illinois, and a BA in Visual Communication and Psychology from North Central University in Durham, North Carolina.

It wasn’t until 2015 Drew decided to create works inspired by religious text.

‘Fruit of the Spirit’ was the first piece I produced. I envisioned a young man with his hands raised, surrounded by the words that make up the fruit of the Spirit,” she said.

“I contacted my oldest nephew and asked if he would pose for me, and he was happy to do so. His image began the whole creative mixed-media process, and that work is on the front of my business card. I can’t imagine a better beginning, for “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control.” (Gal 5:22-23)

With the exception of one work in the exhibit, if a mixed media work or painting has words in it, there is only one word and not a phrase. The beauty of the limited text is an opportunity to open the interpretation of the work.

An example is the work titled Good: a smiling woman is in the center of the panel, the word “patience” reads across her headband. Behind the figure is a group, or pattern, of stylized oranges creating an aura of yellow-orange, striped leaves of green between the fruit.

The lower bottom of the picture plane is made of wooden panels stained in a cherry-wood color; the word “good” is on the surface cut from a different piece of wood stained in dark gray.
Forgive and Ye Will Be Forgiven, another work in the exhibit, is without text. Drew has painted patterns of daisies across the surface of the painting in the form of an upward spiral: they diminish in size as they float backward and upwards into the distance.

A joyous smiling female is behind the daisies and in front of the background of larger arc shapes, painted in the color of teal and gold leafing.

Drews’s works serve as a means of outreach, sparking curiosity and encouraging dialogue about faith and spirituality — yet many works are left to interpretation.

Although religious art had a significant role in shaping the cultural heritage of societies around the world — today it is met with mixed reactions and criticism in secular galleries.
No matter what the belief system of any visitor to Themes of Joy and Transformation is, the majority of visitors will leave the gallery seeing a strong body of work and having a feeling of joy and positivity. It is the way in which the artist explores a theme that reflects human positivity and joy, or in the beauty of a landscape full of tulips.

While religious art may face challenges in contemporary art circles, there are still many contemporary artists who incorporate religious themes and symbols into their work and are celebrated for doing so.

The reception of religious art in contemporary art is diverse, with some embracing it as a valuable form of expression for a myriad of reasons. Art, by its nature, is highly subjective, and opinions on what constitutes meaningful or valuable art can vary widely.
In an increasingly interconnected world, Themes of Joy and Transformation has the potential to facilitate interfaith dialogue and understanding by showcasing commonalities and differences among different religious traditions.

At the end of the day, Gallery 208 celebrates diversity and inclusiveness.

Beyond its spiritual or religious aspects, Deb Drew’s art is simply aesthetically beautiful or captivating. The skill and creativity of the artist in depicting spiritual themes can be appreciated purely on an artistic level.

The value of spiritual-based art is multifaceted, encompassing personal, cultural, religious, emotional and artistic dimensions.
It serves as a means of expression, reflection and connection to the spiritual or divine realm. Themes of Joy and Transformation has the potential to evoke different meanings and significance for different individuals and communities.

The public is invited to attend the reception and meet the artist on Thursday, Oct. 5, between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The exhibit will remain at Gallery 208 until late December 2023.
Gallery 208 is located at 208 Rowan Street, Fayetteville. The hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information call 910-484-6200.