September Visual Arts

Carol L. Adamec is a native Chicago. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in painting from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1976. Enchanted by the beauty of the light and landscape, Carol moved to New Mexico in 1994. Drawing upon an array of cultural sources, using line, color, and a mix of materials and mediums, Carol has created a unique body of work to delight the eye and capture some essence of the beautiful. Her work has been exhibited at the Albuquerque Museum of Art, Harwood Art Center, Art Santa Fe, as well as out-of-state venues. She is currently represented by the Weyrich Gallery in Albuquerque and LRoss Gallery in Memphis, TN. Additional work by Carol can be seen on Instagram at ArtByCarolAdamec and online at https://caroladamec.blogspot.com. Carol says, “With brush and paint, I have been chasing beauty for over fifty years, painting flowers and subject matter from Nature. For the past six years, I have been using the kimono shape to explore patterning and design. Combining my interest in kimonos and my love of painting flowers has developed into her ongoing series, In a Japanese Garden.

Tony Mattson grew up in rural northeast Colorado and moved to New Mexico in his teen years. The majority of his career was spent providing audiovisual services for the Department of Energy and for the largest community college in the state. Tony’s interest in photography began in college, but he became more serious about developing his skills before retiring in 2011. After he joined a local camera club and spent many hours in self-study, he really began to hone his fine art skills. Tony has received many accolades after entering photos in several prominent local photography shows. Tony says, “Growing up on the Great Plains gave me an early love of this country’s great open landscapes—the majestic views, the blue skies on clear days, or the clouds heralding the approach of wild storms on others. Photographing these views, as well, as the majestic mountain views and the unique scenery of the desert southwest have shaped my vision of the open landscape as well as the variety of its details. I am glad to be able to share my vision with you. My work is available on my website tonymattson.com, at the Tularosa Basin Gallery in Carrizozo, NM, and at various exhibitions around the Albuquerque area.”

Juan Wijngaard was born and raised in Argentina. His Dutch family moved to the Netherlands while he was a teenager. Juan eventually moved to England and graduated from the Royal College of Art in London. He embarked on a successful career as a children's book illustrator with over 30 titles, numerous awards and international shows under his belt. Since moving to New Mexico in 2004, Juan has dedicated himself fulltime to painting for its own sake. Juan says, “After decades of interpreting the written word into a visual form as an illustrator, I now delight in being able to paint what so eloquently speaks to me without words in my daily life, and to experience an intimate bonding with my immediate surroundings. When I work I am guided by two main principles: “Show, don’t tell” and the oxymoron “Make haste slowly.” My aim with the first is to have the piece speak for itself. With the second it is to enter a meditative state in which the passage of time disappears, the work flows, and I become one with the painting.” OTHER INFORMATION: Email: juan@juanwijngaard.com website: juanwijngaard.com galleries and upcoming shows: Corrales Bosque Gallery, Masterworks 2021, ArtsThrive 2020.

Myra Gadson has a technical background, working in Engineering and Design throughout her career until retirement in 2014. She has been designing jewelry for the past 12 years and truly enjoys the opportunity to use her right brain. Myra says, “At Tierra y Luz Studio, I design classic and contemporary jewelry, often with a southwest spin. Among my collections, you will find unique combinations of gemstones that bring together colors of earthy yet refined harmony. Often, my designs are a balance of rough and refined materials such as deerskin and pearls resulting in aesthetically pleasing jewelry that is invitingly comfortable to wear.