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.
Samantha Hutchinson-Ouranos
Samantha Hutchinson-Ouranos is a Mexican-American artist from Monterrey, Mexico.
Illustrating and painting have been a lifetime joy and her true calling. In 2015 she launched SAMMIOTZI, a creative branch from which she creates commercial products and apparel, marketing campaigns and fine art.
Her art is a reflection of her spiritual journey and her connection with her ancestors and social justice. All of her products are inspired from her original illustrations. As a Latina artist and designer, she believes it’s important to use her voice. Some of her activism work includes painting detailing the impact of domestic violence, immigration, women protests in Iran and equal rights.
She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and their twin girls.
Website: sammiotzi.com, opens a new window
Instagram: @sammiotzi, opens a new window
Kimberly Gutierrez
Artist Statement
Nodus Tollens (The realization that the plot of your life doesn't make sense to you anymore.)
I was inspired to create this series of prints after watching the television series Midnight Mass, created by Mike Flanagan. In it he provides a philosophical and somber look at the Catholic religion, inspired by his own Catholic upbringing, atheism, and eventual sobriety. I do not practice any faith at this point in time, but the lessons I have learned from Catholicism throughout my childhood and adolescence are still with me and have affected me in more ways than one–although not always for the better. Upon finishing the Midnight Mass I decided that it was time to revisit my relationship and experiences with Catholicism.
This series is not intended to be a critique or an exposé on Catholicism nor is it intended to speak for anyone else’s experiences with Catholicism. This is me sharing my personal experiences with Catholicism and how it has shaped me over the years. This is my experience and mine alone. This is me confronting some of my most uncomfortable and personal life events that I have rarely discussed with anyone in my life. It is also me attempting to understand the effect they had on me and how I can learn from them now as an adult who is trying to do better for themselves and others. This is me speaking through my art. This is me.
What is your favorite piece and why?
I think one of my favorite pieces is Lights that Fell on Black Days, not just because it was one of the easier pieces to etch, but also because it served as a reminder of the little moments that make life worth living. This series dealt with very personal moments and intense feelings, particularly my struggle with depression and persistent feelings of shame. This piece was a reminder that some of the best memories I will ever have are those days and nights that seem so ordinary. There is a lot of beauty to be found in ordinary moments, even if they are only being experienced by myself. Whether it’s making my favorite breakfast for myself, listening to music, drawing in a coffee shop, reading a good book, or seeing a lovely cloud; these are the moments that make life a little brighter and worthwhile. They are lights on my darkest days.
What motivates you to create?
I often say that my art is a method of communication. It’s how I share my love, my feelings, and my thoughts; even if they are not always clear. I struggle with words a lot, so I prefer to communicate with images and actions. Whether it’s for work or for self indulgence, I always feel a need to draw and create things. To experiment and try new things, just to see what will happen. I think it’s easier to share my thoughts and feelings with art because it allows others to make of it what they will. Sometimes people provide new perspectives and advice, even when they don’t realize it. I think it also comes from a need to leave my mark somehow.
Who are your biggest artist influences?
I’m inspired by all sorts of artists, whether they are visual artists, graphic designers, musicians, painters, or performance artists. Some of my favorite artists include Vance Kirkland, Martin Persner, Von Glitschka, Vincent Van Gogh, Tyrus Creek, David Lynch, and James Hetfield. I’m also very heavily influenced by local artists and my close friends that are also artists. There are likely too many to list but I think their influences are greater than any mainstream name in art. They’re the people that help me grow when they critique my art, offer support, and show up to my exhibitions. They’re the ones that remind me to keep creating when they upload their work and share prompts. They bring me so much joy when they share their work and I can see how much they’ve grown and progressed since we met. They all mean so much to me and I hope they know who they are.
What message do you want your art to convey to viewers?
I don’t think I have a particular message for viewers. As I said before, I use my art to communicate with others. However, there isn’t a singular message I am communicating. My art will focus on different themes depending on where I am in life and how I feel at the time. I’ve used my art to cope with depression, to express my love for people and things, to analyze topics that interest me, and deal with past trauma. I don’t usually consider how many people will understand my art, sometimes I don’t understand what I’m doing with it myself, I’ll just create it to create something. It is of course, a joy when people tell me that my art speaks to them and that they were impacted by it but it also doesn’t deter me when people don’t get it. The people the art is meant for will come with time and that might be much later down the road as is the case with a lot of artists I am fond of. I just want to be able to share some of my feelings, thoughts, and memories with others. If it speaks to them, that’s great. If it doesn’t I’ll keep on creating until I make something that does.
Jeremy Janus
Artist statement:
I strive to continue to push myself further into sharing the beautiful moments I am blessed to experience in life while connecting with others and trying to be a positive light in the world. My experiences and journey have shown me that with family, friends, and faith anything is possible and that when you change your perspective, you can inspire the world.
What is your favorite piece in the show and why?
My favorite piece in the show is "Sunrise at Loch Vale" because of the effort it took to take it. I took the shot back in 2019 on my first solo snowshoe which was over 6 miles round trip. The sunrise hit the mountain just perfect before a massive snowstorm blew in.
What motivates you to create?
Creation comes from my desire to make the world around me a better place. I live to inspire and influence the people around me and I love showing them a part of nature that they may never see or experience for themselves.
Who are your biggest artist influences?
My biggest artist influences are other photographers and artists that I have met through my nature and photography adventures. They push me greatly with their vision of the world and show me other possibilities that I didn't see myself.
What message do you want your art to convey to viewers?
I want my art to show people the beauty of the world and to show them that no matter where their life is right now, they can always find a way to seek the beauty that surrounds us every single day on this wonderful planet.
