Deeann Rieves: Purpose

B.F.A., Memphis College of Art 2007

Deeann Rieves is a full time artist in Atlanta, Georgia and her contemporary mixed-media figurative paintings have been in several juried shows in Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky, and Arkansas. In her first year as a working artist, she had two solo shows: Beneath The Surface at The Stirring Gallery in Memphis, TN and Embody at Guachoya Cultural Arts Center in Arkansas. In 2009 she was in the group show Be A Doll at Estel Gallery in downtown Nashville, TN, two of her paintings were in the Renaissance Regional Exhibit at The Renaissance Center in Dixon, TN and she had a piece in Fiber Focus in St. Louis, MO.

Her paintings were published in Wired for a Life of Worship, on the cover of The Air I Breathe by Louie Giglio in 2006. Her work has also been featured and reviewed in Relevant Magazine, Ruminate Magazine, The Memphis Flyer, The Nasvhille Scene and a two-page article in The School Arts Magazine. Deeann has also traveled and taught mixed media painting and sketchbook workshops in Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Texas.

A common thread ties women throughout history together and this cohesion has been the source of my inspiration. In a world where so many things are relative and society focuses on individualism, I like to see how broader histories can still speak about present conditions. I am currently focusing on women from the Bible in my paintings and how I can relate to part of their journey. Many of these women had been condemned by society because of their poverty, disease, gender or promiscuity, but were recorded because of their sensitive strong spirits, willing hearts, and their ability to love.

I focus on which part of the figure can best express the desired characteristic they exemplify- a hand desperately reaching for something lost, and deceitful turn of the wrist, a seductive glance, or a reluctant tilt of the neck. The collaged ambiguous environments give the viewer hints to the story. The layers speak of the complex nature of human experience and our connectedness through time.

In each painting, the women are exposed in their abandonment, guilt, doubt, or insecurity but seem comfortable in their journey as historical figures that lead captivating lives. Their experiences gave them wisdom and a tremendous understanding of pain. Women today feel the same desire to play the lead role in their story and fill it with not only playful elegance, but also to be daring and compassionate when it is severely needed. Women from the past can remind us to be willing give to others even when we feel empty, the boldness to reach out of our isolation when we know we need help, and that it is okay to be vulnerable when we need to spill out everything we have been holding inside. They embody beauty in their surrender, courage, desperation, and vulnerability.