Ah! New Mexico!

Ah! New Mexico! Whittier Library's current exhibit showcases the work of the husband and wife artist duo Grace Shinoda Nakamura and Yoshio C. Nakamura. The pieces are inspired by the landscape and imagery of New Mexico. A young Grace Nakamura discovered her love for New Mexico in the second grade when she first read the children's book Chi-Wee: A little Girl of the Pueblo. Adding to her love was the discovery of an entire series of the adventures of the pueblo girl and a visit to the Southwest Museum whose directors just happened to be Grace and Carl Moon the author and illustrator of the Chi-Wee series. Yoshio's introduction to the enchantment with the states beauty was through geology. Having an interest in all things geological he found himself compelled to capture the beauty New Mexico's unusual and fascinating landforms. Their varying interest in the beauty of the state is made quite clear in their various works of art.

Grace and Yoshio capture their love and New Mexico's beauty in various art forms including watercolor, photography, digital art pieces and monotype.

Yoshio's work exhibits a conceptual interpretation of the landscapes and geology of the state. With stencilgraphic monotypes his pieces capture the liveliness of the landscape. Mullein uses the yellows and greens of the plant to capture its life and nature. A plant that can grow anywhere and adapt in all regions it is one that takes over the landscape and the canvas. While in contrast Abiquiuscape is the depiction of the New Mexico desert. Here he uses not the tones of the desert but sets contrasting colors of spring blues and greens to create what is a desert of harsh ledges and burning sands hovered over by ethereal white clouds. The mixed media TreeTools Five continues the use of colors that while not often associated with the subject is nonetheless effective in showing us the subject's beauty. Here we're shown, a tree, its claw like branches scratch at the sky painted in vibrant violets, purples, and greens. Its clash of colors and the nature of the tree show a subtle beauty to what is otherwise a naturally distinct and unusual form.

Graces work is in direct contrast to her husbands. While Yoshio's is the conceptualized beauty of New Mexico her pieces depict a more traditional. Her portion of the exhibit entails a collection of watercolors and photographs. From modern impressionism to landscape photography Grace not only seeks to share but to show us her love the state that has captured her love and adoration. Her work moves seamlessly from tranquil and serene to loud and introspective.

The watercolor Thunderhead Four is a simple impressionist portrait of an oncoming storm. The green field marked with orange and red flowers and scattered with the growing shadows of the storm showcases a simple and quiet beauty preparing to be consumed by the dark angry cries of a storm. Summer Aspen depicts a watercolor forest of Aspen. At their feet is a simple stream of red yellow and violet flowers. While quaint and lovely in its simplicity it is immediately alluring and enchanting in a quiet childlike manner.

The images gathered in Graces photographs run the course of the lost and found and the quiet landscapes laid out in an endless scene to be absorbed in all its majesty. In her photographs of the Road to Taos and the Big Skies Taos we're shown the majesty of land. Its open solitude evokes a quiet introspection and allows the viewer to be taken to a place outside of their own world.