Nature inspires January show at Mesilla Valley Fine Arts Gallery

It’s Jane and Jan in January at the Mesilla Valley Fine Arts Gallery (MVFA), 2470-A Calle de Guadalupe, across from the Fountain Theatre on the historic Mesilla Plaza, as the work of Jane Madrid and Jan Severson will be featured at the gallery during the month of January 2022. The gallery will also display the woodwork and photography of a new MVFA artist during the month.

Madrid has been a Las Cruces resident since 1959 and has painted since the age of 8. Her serious work began around 2005. Jane’s main media of painting is oil and some acrylic. Her major artistic themes center around nature, with a particular emphasis on animals, flowers, birds and landscape. She is an active member in several organizations and promotes art in the area.

Severson spent her professional life with a major computer company as an education consultant. By accident, and with a good friend’s encouragement, she started weaving and found that it had become a passion that brought her a great sense of joy and accomplishment. While she prefers the colors of nature, you will often find her weaving with colorful reed, yarns, wood objects and beads. The beauty and diversity of New Mexico often serves as an inspiration for her art.

“I hope those who give my creations a home find joy and beauty in them,” Severson said.

A new MVFA artist will also be exhibiting in the gallery in January: Woody Hoffman.

Hoffman’s photography hobby became a full-time endeavor after years of traveling the country, doing juried art shows and starting a gallery in Silverton, Colorado. Hoffman is retired from the Colorado Department of Agriculture. He moved to Las Cruces in 2004, where he took up another former hobby: woodturning.

Every year, Hoffman attends symposiums to hone his skills, learn new techniques and improve and update his equipment. He belongs to Artists of Picacho Hills and has participated in the Las Cruces Farmers Market. Hoffman has also shown in galleries in Santa Fe and Las Cruces. Most of the wood he uses is from recycled sources where it was destined for firewood, but special woods and burls are purchased for special pieces. All of his utilitarian pieces have a food safe finish.

MVFAG features the work of 30 artists in various media, including oil, acrylics, pastels, watercolor, fused glass art jewelry, woodturnings, stained glass, photography, ceramics, mixed media, decorated gourds, handmade textile weavings, art tile, fiber art, natural gemstone jewelry, colored pencil, basket weavings, charcoal, pen and ink, prints, cards and miniature paintings.

MVFAG is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

First American Bank, 1553 Avenida de Mesilla, is well represented by gallery members who rotate their artwork monthly at the bank.

Call 575-522-2933. Visit www.mesillavalleyfinearts.com.