CV, ARTIST STATEMENT and BIO
ARTIST STATEMENT
In my latest body of work, I delve into the intricate relationship between memory and malleable materials, particularly exploring the nostalgic terrain of my childhood influenced by novelty, pop culture, and television. Fabric becomes my canvas, weaving together threads of personal recollections and societal influences to create a tapestry of introspection.
Drawing inspiration from the characters and narratives that shaped my upbringing, I employ techniques such as crochet to materialize memories into tangible forms. For instance, the portrayal of Everybody Lies as a representation of my father underscores the interplay between personality traits and the characters we grew up watching. Through this creative process, I confront the notion of television and novelty as both escapism and reflection of our lives, blurring the boundaries between fantasy and reality. The crocheted artwork playfully embodies the exaggerated scale of nostalgia that childhood objects often hold in our minds. The oversized novelties emphasize the distorted nature of the recollection, turning a simple, familiar craft into a monumental representation of both youth and pop culture influences. By elevating the whimsical, everyday items to the level of fine art, the piece reflects my ongoing dialogue with memory: where the ordinary becomes the extraordinary and nostalgia is both celebrated and questioned.
My exploration into the malleability of memory goes beyond mere nostalgia; it delves into the complexities of identity formation and the inherent distortions within our recollections. Childhood memories, often seen through a lens of innocence, are revealed to be subjective and prone to manipulation. As I manipulate fabric and memory alike, I invite viewers to reconsider their own perceptions of truth and reality.
Informed by lived experiences and a nuanced understanding of memory's deceptive allure, my work oscillates between comfort and discomfort, playfulness and responsibility. By juxtaposing childhood innocence with the weight of adult introspection, I aim to provoke contemplation on the nature of memory and its enduring influence on our lives. Through tactile textures and familiar imagery, I seek to evoke a visceral response that transcends the boundaries of time and nostalgia, inviting viewers to embark on a journey of introspection and rediscovery.
CV
Devann Donovan @devanndonovan
Education
2022 Master of Fine Arts, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
2018 Bachelor of Art in Painting, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC 2016 Accademia del Arte, Arezzo, Italy, Summer Program
Exhibitions
2024 (upcoming) Solo Show, Slow Play Brewing, Rock Hill, SC
Eerie, Wonder Gallery, Columbia, SC
Friends of Friday Arts Project Exhibition, Courtroom Gallery, Rock Hill, SC
11th Annual Juried Exhibition, Spartanburg Libraries, Spartanburg, SC
NASAD Accreditation Alumni Show, Winthrop University
3rd Place, Winter Juried Show, Charlotte Art League, NC
Red, Invitational Exhibition, c3Lab, Charlotte, NC
Room Service, Vendor Show, Charlotte, NC
Fonta Flora, Vendor Show, Ballantyne, NC
2023 Vivid, Alumni Exhibition, Winthrop University
United States Postal Service Annual Meeting, Vendor Show, Myrtle Beach, SC
2022 33rd Annual Juried Competition, Arts Council of York County, Rock Hill, SC
Replays, MFA Thesis Exhibition, Winthrop University
Anonymous, Charlotte Art League, Charlotte, NC
Love – 2022, Exhibizone, Virtual Exhibition, Ontario, Canada
2021 Once Upon A Time – Evocations of Childhood, Queen City 15 Gallery, Poughkeepsie,
NY
MFA Works in Progress Exhibition, Restored and Reflected, Winthrop University
Just Checking In, Winthrop Union of Student Artists, Winthrop University
Rise, Play + Inspire Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Unapologetically Human, ASUS Queen’s University, Kingston, ON
Intergalactic Open 2, Shockboxx Gallery, Hermosa Beach, CA
2020 Visiting Artist of the Month, Seacoast Artists Gallery, Myrtle Beach, SC
Quarantine Creatives CCU Alumni Artists, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC Art at a Distance-American Life in Isolation, Art Works, Richmond, VA
Go Figure!, SAA Collective Gallery Hoogland Center for the Arts, Springfield, IL Water & Oil, William H. Miller Studios, Myrtle Beach, SC
Burroughs-Chapin Art Museum’s 9th Annual Collectors’ Event, Collector’s Café and Gallery, Myrtle Beach, SC
2019 Reclaimed!, Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, Fayetteville, NC Perspectives: America, Specto Art Space, Harrisonburg, VA
Real People 2019, Old Courthouse Arts Center, Woodstock, IL
Burroughs-Chapin Art Museum’s 8th Annual Collectors’ Event, Collector’s Café and Gallery, Myrtle Beach, SC
2018 Senior Exhibition, Coastal Carolina University, SC
Teaching and Work Experience
2023-24
Gallery Manager, Arts Council of York County, Rock Hill, SC
Adjunct Instructor, 3D & 2D Design Foundations, Photo Media Studies, 3D Media Studies, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
Art Appreciation & 2D Design, Central Piedmont University, Charlotte, NC
Photography Instructor, ST-Arts Summer Program, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
2022 Adjunct Instructor, 3D Design Foundations, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
Exhibits Preparator, Museum of York County, Rock Hill, SC
Painting & Drawing Instructor, ST-Arts Summer Program, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
Instructor on Record, 2D Media Studies Drawing, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
Studio Technician Assistant, Graduate Assistantship, Fine Arts Dept., Winthrop University, Rock Hill SC
Health, Safety & Security Student Representative, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
Graduate Council Student Representative, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
2021 Teaching Assistant, Sculpture 1, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
MFA Overseer & Fine Arts Assistant Curator, MFA Works in Progress Exhibition, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
Special Projects Graduate Assistantship, Fine Arts Dept., Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
Teaching Workshop, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
2020 Private Academic Tutor due to COVID-19, Elementary - College level, Myrtle
Beach, SC
Children’s Art Educator, Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum,
Myrtle Beach, SC
2019 Private Fine Arts Tutor, ages 5-15 across Myrtle Beach- North Myrtle Beach and
Conway, SC areas.
Painting Assistant to Sculptor Jim Swaim, Longs, SC
2018 Art Education Intern, Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum,
Myrtle Beach, SC
Painting Instructor, Wine and Design, North Myrtle Beach, SC
Awards, Fellowships, Honors
2024 3rd Place, Winter Show with Guild of Charlotte Artists, Charlotte, NC
2021 People’s Choice, 3-Minute Graduate Showcase, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
2018 Cum Laude, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC
Public Talks
2023 Class Tours through Arts Council of York County
2021 Replays, MFA Thesis Exhibtion Artist Talk, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC Guest Artist Talk, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC
MFA Artist Talk, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
3 Minute Graduate Showcase, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
1-Minute MFA Artist Talk, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
Bibliography (Reviews and Features)
Winthrop Anthology, Literary Magazine, Spring Edition, 2020
http://www.winthropanthology.com/
Pressley, Mari, "Devann Gardner Profile Story". The Johnsonian, May 7, 2021,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojKkji5jQ34
myhorrynews.com, "Myrtle Beach Art Museum takes education programs online due to COVID- 19", March 27, 2020 https://www.myhorrynews.com/news/business/myrtle-beach-art- museum-takes-education-programs-online-due-to-covid-19/article_4726852a-704f-11ea- 85cb-2398646647c0.html
WPDE News Channel 13, review of leading KidsArt Programing and COVID-19 adaptations.
https://wpde.com/news/local/stuck-at-home-online-art-classes-help-can-relieve-stress
"Murrells Inlet artist paints bright future for area youth". Post and Courier Georgetown Times, June 20, 2019, https://www.postandcourier.com/georgetown/community/murrells-inlet- artist-paints-bright-future-for-area-youth/article_fea9be07-7bc8-5270-b9d6- 71ebfe13de1a.html
“Education Corner with Tracey Roode and Devann Gardner”. Villa Voice, December 2019,
http://myrtlebeachartmuseum.org/villa-voice-winter-2018-2-2/
Kisner, Joshua, “Myrtle Beach Art Museum hires CCU alumna as new art educator”. The Horry Independent Business Journal, July 1, 2019, https://www.myhorrynews.com/eedition_the_horry_county_business_journal/page- e/page_9bf1d3b6-2c6a-5044-88bb-e20ad08c05a0.html
"Myrtle Beach Art Museum hires CCU alumna Devann Gardner", Coastal Carolina University News, June 25, 2019, https://www.coastal.edu/ccustories/news/news- article/index.php?id=5070
Morgan, Janet, "Coastal Carolina University students paint mural in North Myrtle Beach", The Sun News, June 20, 2017, http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article157196929.html
About
My name is Devann Donovan
Devann Donovan, from Murrells Inlet, SC , has cultivated a multifaceted artistic career deeply rooted in her personal narrative. Armed with an MFA from Winthrop University, she possesses a unique ability to weave the threads of her life into captivating artworks that transcend mediums and elicit profound emotions.
Devann's practice is a playful exploration, with a constantly changing attraction to new mediums that leaves no medium untested. Her work knows no bounds, as she navigates from paintings to steel sculptures, video installations, and performances. In her continuous quest for self-discovery, Devann has recently embarked on an exploration of textile art, adding a new dimensions to her portfolio.
Currently residing in Rock Hill with her husband and three dogs, Devann Donovan shares her knowledge and artistic insight as an educator at Winthrop University and Central Piedmont Community College. Additionally, she holds the position of Gallery Manager at the Arts Council of York County.
Devann Donovan's art is a profound reflection of her ever-changing journey through life, inviting viewers to embark on their own introspective journey through her creations.
