Local artist Ben Edwards is trying to stay positive after years of artwork was vandalized over the weekend.

Edwards said, “The shock is just now wearing off. So I’m processing a lot of feelings about it.”

His exhibition Possessions, in particular the artwork Understanding What they Want, was vandalized.

The art  hangs on the walls at the Arts Center of the Ozarks. He said his works are presented in a raw unprotected way for a reason.

Edwards said, “Works on paper are troublesome for any arts institution that chooses to exhibit them because of their fragile nature. And certainly as works on paper get older they become more fragile. For me leaving them exposed in this way, is a metaphor for the own fragility of thought and memory that are locked in each of these.”

“Thirty years of artwork hang on the walls at ACO, representing stages of Ben’s life. But in an instant, damaged by derogatory terms.”

Make America great again, bad art and a derogatory term towards gay people are some of the words written on Edwards’ art, ruining the pieces with permanent marker.

Jenni Taylor Swain is the Executive and Artistic Director at ACO, she said,  “We were very successful in engaging people. Unfortunately, we had someone that chose to engage in the art in a way that was offensive and inappropriate.”

Edwards said the ACO staff has been supportive during this time.They’ve filed a police report but he said he will not be pursuing criminal charges.

“For me,without lack of evidence, I don’t see pursuing this from a criminal standpoint at all. And just personally, I definitely believe in forgiveness, I believe in turning the other cheek. These are the ways I live my life and I make no exception here,” said Edwards.

Edwards said if anything positive can come from this, it’s his hope that more people can come together to support local arts.