Mears' art exhibit, Let It Speak celebrates interpretation of work

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Lipscomb University senior Jennifer Mears' senior art exhibit in the John C. Hutcheson Art Gallery is a culmination of work she has completed throughout her college years. With a theme of "Let It Speak," she purposefully left descriptions off her displays wanting viewers to allow the art to speak for itself based on their own interpretations and experiences.

 

"Sometimes art means the same thing to multiple viewers," Mears said. "However, other times, the work is interpreted extremely different based on the viewers' history with the subject and basic interpretation. Everyone brings personal bias when interpreting art. I wanted to allow my work to be up for interpretation of any kind, dependant only on the viewers experiences."

 

Mears' show displays work from a variety of mediums.

 

"It was fantastic that Jennifer included a large amount of her studio work in this show," said Laura Lake Smith, assistant professor and chair of the art department.  "She is a terrific graphic designer and concentrates heavily on that in her classes right now, but she presented a great mix of various works she has completed while at Lipscomb. Her love of graphic design was even evident in her photos, paintings, and drawings."

 

Mears, a graphic design major, would love to use her graphic design abilities to illustrate children's books.

 

"I lean toward wanting to illustrate cartoons or other children's books and movies because I want to keep that level of humor and silliness in society," Mears' said.

 

"Through a funny book or a clever children' movie, people can have fun and allow their imagination to be active. I want to appeal to that childlike humor whether it is for children or adults."

 

Mears' favorite piece in the show was "Monsters at the Tea Party" done in colored pencil. The work demonstrates her desire to create art that is creative and up for interpretation.

 

"I like that piece of art work the most because it takes the common image of a girl at a tea party and makes it into something more," Mears said. "The interpretation could vary from a girl who is scared and doesn't want the monsters there, but can't imagine them away because she is so scared to a girl who embraces everyone and enjoys having the monsters with her at the tea party."