Williamson: Golden Library worth trip

The seven glass-fronted cases that line the west side of the foyer of Golden Library might be the nicest gallery space in eastern New Mexico.

Director Melveta Walker said her library is preparing for a two-year multi-million dollar renovation scheduled to begin in May 2016, but until then visitors to Golden at Eastern New Mexico University should plan a little extra time to enjoy the creations of some of our area’s best artists.

Through Oct. 2, the display cases are home to 50 dazzling photos by retired teacher Louise Shoemaker, whose travels and passion for capturing photographic images have taken her around the world.

link Betty Williamson

Known to her former students as “Miss Shoe,” Louise taught at Fort Sumner from 1976-1979, Dora from 1979-1994, and Portales High School from 1994-2001. She was the New Mexico Teacher of the Year in 2000.

While her career was largely devoted to teaching English, she’s seldom been without a camera in her hand.

Louise said she fell in love with photography as soon as she was tall enough to reach the counter in the makeshift darkroom her father built in the garage in her childhood home in Santa Fe. Although she’s a digital wizard these days, processing thousands upon thousands of images each year, she’s never forgotten “seeing the magic of a picture appear in the swirling developer.”

A walk through the current display at Golden takes you to locations around the United States, as well as New Zealand, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland, and Greece. Each has a story, but Louise said she has a special fondness for those that have a deep personal connection to someone she loves.

“I am crazy about the solitary walker in the back streets of Venice,” she said, “because it reminds me of the remarkable experience of sauntering off the tourist grid with my brother, perfectly content to have no idea where we were as long as we were there together.”

Overseeing multiple yearbooks and occasional photography classes, Louise worked with numerous fledgling shutterbugs. To her delight, she knows of “at least four or five professional or semi-professional photographers, and countless hobbyists” among her former students.

Walker said the next foyer exhibit will be a two-week showing of acrylic paintings by Portales artist Judy Mowrer that opens Oct. 3. The handiwork of local quilt makers will be featured from mid-October through Nov. 15.

Not a regular at Golden? Trust me. It’s worth the side trip.

Betty Williamson keeps finding more reasons to love libraries. You may reach her at:

[email protected]