By CAITLYN PRAY
Student Writer
Many children aspire to become artists when they grow up; only a handful actually develop that idea into a reality, Marianne Hoffmeister let her ambition lead her into a fulltime career and passion towards teaching others.
For Hoffmeister, art is an educational experience both on and off the canvas. Taking a single image, Hoffmeister attempts to capture the details of the image in charcoal drawings to educate not only herself on the image and how to draw it, but also the audience that soaks in her strokes in hopes to interest them to learn more.
“I think it is very interesting seeing how so much of the two cultures are alike, and yet they are so different in their ways.” Hoffmeister said when asked about the art she intends to do in Alva. “The American cowboy—I think it is interesting because it is so generic, but fantastic and almost fictional to me. In Chile, we have this same image, but not like the Ranger here in America. In Chile, our cowboys are more used for military and drills and are not free and wild like the cowboy.”
The Northwestern mascot has not become the only central point of interest for Hoffmeister. The murals that adorn downtown Alva, the Cherokee Strip museum, the local history and even the Walmart and city. “It is interesting because to me, as a foreigner, I find even a trip to the market or Walmart to be exciting because we don’t have that market in Chile and there is so much different.” Hoffmeister said.
Hoffmeister also reveals that while drawing and art is her occupation, her initial career goal was to become an archaeologist in order to research and learn more about cultures and the world than other career choices might take.
After a time of decision, however, Hoffmeister said she came to the conclusion that art was her gift and an avenue for her to enjoy research and multiple other opportunities across the globe.
“As an artist I can be anything I want and can be sort of an archaeologist, I can be a writer, I can be a philosopher and at the end I think that art gave me a wider version of the world and that’s why I chose it.” Hoffmeister said.It is now Hoffmeister’s vision to give that same unlimited feeling to other artists and those interested in the Alva community.
“To those who live here forever, this idea and place is very common and not interesting enough, and they must look harder to see ideas. That is the way I also felt with my home back in Chile.” Hoffmeister said. While most people would agree with Hoffmeister’s statement that a trip to the local grocery store is not a peak of excitement or a source of inspiration, “I think art is wonderful because it is such a subjective thing,” Hoffmeister said when asked what she enjoys about art.
“One hundred people can look at the exact same object and come up with one hundred different ideas or perceptions.”Hoffmeister will be continuing her work and classes for the duration of her stay until April 6 after presenting her art at the first friday art walk.
All are invited to attend the anticipated event to see Hoffmeister’s artwork and her artistic attempt to blend the two varied cultures and landmarks of western, remote, ranch-style Alva, Oklahoma with Spanish, mountainous, and cultural Chile.