MONROE — Monroe Arts Center will reopen their doors for a new gallery exhibit beginning on Tuesday, June 16. The exhibit “Words I Know the Songs To” will be on display at MAC’s Wellington and Muranyi Galleries through Saturday, Aug. 22. Monroe Arts Center is located at 1315 11th Street, Monroe.

This exhibit, by Iowa artist Jaclyn Garlock, are photorealistic, acrylic paintings selected from her “Extraordinary Women Doing Ordinary Things” series. These works are dedicated to the many moms who were old-fashioned working girls. They did all these jobs, and more, and then found time to volunteer. 

Large color and dominant imagery are the main elements of Garlock’s work. She uses primary colors and images.

The artist prefers both contrast in her life and work, and hopefully a little humor daily. The figures in these images are predominantly women. Garlock notes, “They are snapping their fingers and having a good time. They are in complete control and they know how to laugh. I am serious about what I do and I have always known comfort in the real strength of women, but I never take myself too seriously.”

Garlock received a B.A. in art and secondary education in 1973 from Adams State University in Colorado. In 1975, she started a screen printing business creating complex photorealistic serigraphs; all hand-drawn and hand-pulled. She progressed to painting in 2000, showing regionally at art fairs and in galleries. In 2008, she began painting full-time.

The gallery is open by appointment only to groups of six persons or less, following the guidelines set forth by the American Alliance of Museums. Appointments to view the gallery are available on Tuesdays from 3 to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon and can be scheduled by calling 608-325-5700. 

Changes in reopening may be made periodically in response to rapidly changing public health concerns.