In July, VGPL welcomes collage artist Julia Kinney and 3D artist Selene Sinclair to the library gallery spaces.

2D artist Julia Kinney originally trained as a musician and wound up working in the corporate world. It was only after retirement that she found the time to fully voice her creativity through painting and collage. “For me, collage is a meditative and internal process,” Kinney says. “I work with paper from magazines and newspapers as well as wrapping paper, tissue paper, and other ephemera.” She avoids scissors to cut the paper and relies on hand tearing as much as possible. “When a work is in progress, my studio is a mess – torn bits of paper on the floor, on my glasses, in my hair, everywhere!” she laughs. Each piece takes between 14 and 30+ hours, depending on its size and composition.

Kinney says her art is an expression of her appreciation of the world, especially the beauty of nature and of “fellow earthlings,” which provides a feeling of great connection. And connection is what Kinney, her husband, and rescue kitties have found in Eldorado. “I’ve relocated many times but have never felt as connected to a community as here,” she says.

Kinney’s exhibit will run through the end of August.

In the 3D case Selene Sinclair, a popular local art teacher at the Eldorado Senior Center, continues the second month of her display featuring helmets and handmade books. Selene attributes her fascination with children’s books to her long career as an elementary-school librarian. Especially enamored of pop-up books, her journey in book making focuses on the use of unusual forms, especially found objects from flags to boxes. She finds that all manner of objects can be turned into stories without words, such as little cabinets that become dioramas with stories tucked into the drawers. “There is no end to what can be done with paste paper and collected objects,” she laughs. Sometimes Sinclair will use a guillotine to chop up thick, bound books and include the open pages in her creations.

Sinclair's exhibit runs through July only. John Segell will exhibit his ceramics in August.

As always, 20% of art sales during the exhibits benefits Vista Grande Public Library, a 501C3 nonprofit serving Southeastern Santa Fe County with programs and material collections for adults and teens. There will be a public art reception on July 12th at the library from 1-3 pm.