Last Saturday, I attended the opening reception for Gordon Vanus and Melba Bushmire at The Watermelon Gallery located in the East Mountains. This beautiful gallery was packed with friends and art enthusiasts excited to see the floor to ceiling art collection, featuring the photography of Gordon Vanus and the paintings of Melba Bushmire. There’s always a certain happiness that I feel witnessing a good turnout for a local art show.
Gordon Ray Vanus’ fine art photography career began later in life after his lengthy business management career. At the age of 10, using his parents’ old box camera, Vanus photographed miniature model cars and 12 blurry images later he was hooked. Learning the mechanics and the art of photography during high school, Vanus’ interest continued through military service, college, and the start of a family. Even though there was little budget for equipment, Vanus’ eye for color and composition continued to develop. In 1998, he transitioned from film to digital which has allowed him to keep the spirit and intent of photography pure while enjoying the creative flexibility of technology.
Vanus’ main photographic theme is nature, then architecture and Americana. His desire is to witness the beauty and awe of untouched landscapes and subjects wherever he travels in the United States. Vanus’ expertise is “capturing macro images of butterflies, telephotos of birds or wide angle landscapes.” Through his photography, Vanus hopes to draw others into the beauty and experience of the great outdoors.
Equally humble in her talent, Melba Bushmire was encouraged by her husband to pursue her painting hobby more seriously. Bushmire enjoys painting arroyos, meadows, horses, ceramic pots and white water. Twenty years later, Bushmire is now an accomplished artist with a large stable of exquisite paintings.
Gordon Vanus and Melba Bushmire fine art can be viewed at The Watermelon Gallery, 12220 N. Highway 14, Suite B, Cedar Crest, NM, 505.286.2164, www.thewatermelongallery.com
