Arapahoe Libraries is proud to host art exhibits each month at Eloise May, Koelbel and Smoky Hill libraries. Library galleries offer the community a place to view a variety of art at no cost while also providing visibility to local artists. A volunteer art selection committee selects exhibits based on artistic quality, variety of exhibits and the suitability of format for each exhibit space.
Have a question about the galleries or interested in showcasing your art? Visit the Art Galleries page for more information.
Kimberly Vair: Modern Papercutting
Papercutting is a “pandemic hobby” that I was drawn to as a result of growing up in Germany where papercutting is a popular craft, especially around the holidays. My day job is technical and fact-based, so any creativity I can find outside work is a relaxing release. I hope this exhibit helps inspire others to find new and interesting ways to unwind.
What is your favorite piece in the show and why?
My favorite is the Woodland piece with the small deer and other creatures. It was one of my first bigger projects and gave me focus during a stressful time, so it feels significant.
What motivates you to create?
Someone wise told me it’s important to create art and experiment, rather than worry about the result. So I like to try new ways to be creative to see what happens, and in this case really enjoyed what I learned!
What message do you want your art to convey to viewers?
I would love viewers to consider new or older art forms and make them their own - these are not my patterns, but I tried to approach them in a new way and technique that I found enjoyable.
Recommended Reading: "Paper Cutting Old & New - Scherenschnitte for the Modern Crafter" by Carole Behrer
Kimberly Gutierrez: Astronomy Domine: A Study of Light, Time, and Space
My exhibition is a collection of three short series of gouache paintings. These are “Can You See Me Now?,” “Does Anyone Really Know What Time Is?” and “It’s All Relative Isn’t It?” These paintings aim to explore the way humans learn about ourselves from light, how we experience and understand time, and our place in the universe. These paintings are me attempting to take the audience on a journey exploring themselves, the universe, and everything in it. I hope you all enjoy it.
For as long as I can remember, art has been a significant part of my life. I can remember drawing on the walls and on napkins at restaurants. I can remember using my older brothers’ drawing books and looking for portraits that I wanted to recreate so desperately. I can remember deciding one day that art was what I wanted to do, even when confronted with the realization that it would be difficult to pursue a creative career. I decided to pursue a career in graphic design and visual arts.
During my time at university, I came to discover that there was much more I loved besides art. I came to develop a deep fondness and appreciation for subjects like astronomy, philosophy and literature, music, and art history. With this, came the desire to share this newfound love for knowledge and the unknown with the rest of the world the only way I know how: through art. In this series I have done this by exploring unorthodox topics such as light, time, and space in abstract or nonrepresentational ways. Through a display of color, abstract imagery, and design I aim to inspire others in the way that other artists have inspired me. I want to elicit the same powerful emotions I have felt just by observing and contemplating art.
I aim to inspire others to learn and think critically about their own experiences through my own depictions of light, time, and space. I want these images to remind the audience of just how small we all really are and how much is left to discover. This series helped me see my life and the lives of others in a new light, while also encouraging me to ask questions and not be afraid of the unknown. Whether or not my questions are answered does not matter. The universe is a grand mystery to be a part of and it seems a shame to not at least try to solve it. I hope to show that if you at least try to understand, sometimes you learn to see yourself and the world in a new light and other times you need to learn to accept that no one has all the answers—and that is okay too. If you never ask, you will surely never know.
What is your favorite piece in the show and why?
Gosh, this is a tough one. I would have to say “Did You Get any of That?,” is probably among my favorites. I had a lot of fun doing my series on time and that was one of the first abstract pieces I had ever really done, it felt very liberating to draw something that wasn’t aiming towards being realistic. It’s about the Big Bang, so I guess it was the beginning of how I saw my approach to creating artwork. I also just really like the colors.
What motivates you to create?
A desire to communicate with others. I don’t do well with words so I feel most comfortable expressing my emotions and sharing my experiences through my artwork. I love sketching whatever I’m into and the people I love. Nothing brings me more joy than sharing my art with someone and getting a reaction out of them.
Who are your biggest artists influences?
I’m really into Vance Kirkland and Vincent Van Gogh. I think I’m mostly motivated by my peers and the artists I follow on my social media. There’s a lot of local artists like Cipriano Ortega and their parents who really inspire me and motivate me to keep working. I’m always inspired by friends on social media who share their artwork too. I follow a lot of my classmates from SFUAD and Regis University who keep me busy and creating. Maybe their influence isn’t always evident in my work, but they all inspire and influence me, even if they don’t know it.
What message do you want your art to convey to viewers?
I don’t really have a specific message at this moment. I think I just want to find ways to connect with people or make them think about things they might otherwise overlook. I like making connections, visualizing abstract ideas, and making weird things. Whenever the weird things I make touch other people or make them feel moved in one way or another, that’s when I really feel accomplished with my work. So, I suppose that is the message. Connection and communication.
Artist's Website, opens a new window
Email: d.ambrosia.rt@gmail.com
Instagram: @d_ambrosia_
