Southwest Landscapes: Views through the Veil in the Delaney Library featured the work of Hesperus artist Holly Hagan. Hagan’s paintings were directly inspired by the time she spent exploring the Southwest and incorporated archetypal themes depicting the natural landscape.
In describing her work, the artist stated:
“My art is about the mystery of life experienced through elements of nature. It’s about the times when the veil between here and there feels a little thinner. Using glazes and working from memory of personal experiences, I combine the natural world with the mystical elements of the unconscious. We’ve all had the experience of the epiphany—the ‘aha’ moment too big for words. My hope is to capture something in my painting that can’t adequately be expressed by language. I want the viewer to be drawn to the work because it makes them feel something.”
Hagan graduated magna cum laude from the University of Oregon with a degree in Fine Art. This exhibition was the second annual Delaney Library presentation featuring a regional artist whose work supported the mission of the Center of Southwest Studies.