Derek Hexum
Why do you use the medium you use?
The knitted fabric not only forms a beautiful piece of art, but is functional as well. I take great delight in making something that will keep one warm and can be passed down from generation to generation. Yarn is flexible if you can imagine it, you can pretty much make it from stuffed animals to clothing to blankets.
What role does art play in your life?
Art has brought the ability to make a positive difference after all of the wrong I have done in life. It allows me to bring joy and blessing which mean the world to me. It’s also very relaxing and therapeutic.
What inspires you to create?
My faith is the inspiration behind all of my art. I got into knitting to make hats and other items to donate to those in need. The ability to provide for others whether through a gift or financial help allows me to put my faith into work. This motivates and inspires me to design beautiful fabrics full of my heart and love and to make them as skillfully as I am able. Constantly getting better.
Transformation Statement
Transformation to me means the birth of a new man from the old. The complete change of life, focus, thoughts, character. To go from unholy to holy, hating to loving, seperated to united. Transformation is the end of enslavement to sin, and the entering into the life of Jesus Christ. There are two powerful versus in scripture displaying this: Romans 12; and 2 Corinthians 3:7-18. I have been transformed by the renewing of my mind in Christ. He has redeemed me and transformed me from a murderer to a lover, a thief to a giver, full of despair to full of hope, filled with death to filled with life, from division to unity, from sin to forgiven, from a life of pain and anger to an abundant life filled with His presence. My hope for transformation is all who are burdened and heavy laden would find the same transformation I have, that there would be revival bringing healing, love, forgiveness, unity, compassion, reconciliation, and restoration. The blanket I designed and made is intended to display, during these tumultuous times, that we are all created, lovedy, and saved by one God. With knitting I see a beautiful picture of transformation because you take an ordinary piece of yarn and turn it into an extraordinary piece of art full of meaning. The background stitch is interwoven triangles displaying the Triune Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). The cross has a three fold cord because you and I together with Jesus is a unity that cannot be broken, the four colors represent the diversity we have and yet in our diversity we are equal, and so every color interacts with each other in one form or another. The blanket is made up of 10 pieces sewn together making one blanket. The cross is three pieces forming one cross. The hands were formed off of my own hand - four hands from one man. And so we are one creation, under one God, given one salvation, to become one body in Him. Transformation is leaving the natural, entering the spiritual coming together in love united together, living together, serving one another in order to build each other up into the children of God we were created to be. This is my prayer, my hope, and desire when I think of transformation.
We are Equal in God (Blanket) (For sale)