7-31-2023 6:01pm

Lynda Brugman and Gabe Mauger Exhibition Opens Friday at Otero Arts

Chris Edwards Editor

The First Friday of August marks the date of an exciting new photography exhibition showcasing the works of Lynda Brugman and newcomer, Gabe Mauger at Otero Arts, 1118 Indiana Avenue, Alamogordo, New Mexico.

AlamogordoTownNews.com and KRAZY KALHRadio.org looks forward to the beginning of each month, and sharing the stories, pride and excitement of the local artists showcased at Otero Arts.

Otero ArtSpace hosts a different and unique exhibition free to the public monthly. This months artist showcase is the works of two photographers. Each photographer has a unique perspective on the world around them and in their approach to their craft.

Lynda Bridgman says, “my love for photography is matched by my love for the natural world. A native of the southwest, I was born in Texas, grew up in Arizona and have lived in Arizona and New Mexico. My interest in photography first developed when taking a black and white film photography class during the eighties while earning a degree in computer information systems.

She is now settled near La Luz, New Mexico. In 2010 she left a career in information technology to pursue her passion for photography. She studied digital photography at NMSU-Alamogordo.

She says her work is “an exploration of the natural world, providing a window through which others may share my deep appreciation of nature and experience its infinite variations and beauty. My purpose is to create photographic works of art that depict the innate beauty of the everyday world we live in.”

She is a published award-winning photographer, president of the Cloudcroft Art Society and member of Otero Arts.

Her works are featured at venues in and around Cloudcroft and Tularosa and at the Tularosa Basin Gallery of Photography in Carrizozo.

An example of her works ”Cooling off in the Late Afternoon” was awarded 1st place in the Animals category of New Mexico Magazine's 2015 photo contest and published in their February 2016 issue.

Several of her works will be showcased at this Otero Arts exhibition along with the engaging works of Gabe Mauger.

Gabe Mauger is a recent graduate of NMSU with a B.S in Computer Science. He says, he’s always been interested in the arts, whether it be theatre, digital drawing, story writing, or performing and writing music.

“Most of my work is heavily inspired by music and the emotions that they conjure through listening,” explained Mauger.

He continued, “During the Fall semester of 2022, I decided to try a photography class before I graduated for good; I received a high grade and constructive criticism on my final project, and that's when I decided to re-evaluate and re-shoot Interpretation of Recovery. I wanted to take everyday sights and locations and portray them in a way that evokes an emotional response.

With "Interpretation of Recovery" some photos may appear distorted and chaotic, while others may not make logical sense, all while displaying lines from the song "I'll Keep Coming" by Low Roar.

His goal with his photography,he expresses; “isn't to imitate the realism of life, but to conjure an emotional response through still-life, graphical design, and even musical accompaniment in one big surrealistic mess.”

He shared, “I'm interested in nearly every form of art, and I felt that photography/graphic design would be the best medium to tell a story of trauma, recovery, and perseverance. While the theme of my next collection of photos will be more light-hearted, I plan on using the same surrealistic style as "Interpretation.”

Meet each of the artist and hear their own words of how they view the world from behind a lens and what they hope to convey with each image shared.

The opening reception is at Otero Arts, 1118 Indiana, this Friday August 4th, 5 pm to 7 pm.

The exhibition continues and is open every Thursday thru Sunday, in August from, 1 pm to 4 pm. This exhibition is is free to the public and all ages are welcome.

To learn more about the art, artists and the organization of Otero Arts visit https://www.oteroarts.org/