Enchantments of Ireland, an exhibit by local artist Michelle Montes, will be on display at the Artisan Connection Gallery, 206 S. Allen St., starting tomorrow. The exhibit focuses on the natural beauty of Ireland and the benefits of land conservation as experienced by the artist during recent travels to the country.

"Her paintings are just wonderful," Laveta Piemme, Artisan Connection exhibit coordinator, said. "We are very excited to be able to include her in our gallery."

Linda Thiel, who acquires art for the Artisan Connection, agreed with Piemme.

"[Montes] was very enthusiastic about her trip and what she had seen in Ireland," Thiel said. "She was really able to capture the beauty of the land. The colors and lighting she uses are breathtaking. We're anxious to get them up; they'll look great in the display."

Montes uses her art to express ideas and issues she finds important. "My paintings are a series from when my husband and I traveled to Ireland," she said. "The theme I wanted to capture was land conservation. I am concerned with how land is being wasted and resources are being used up."

Montes pointed out how attitudes about land in this country have changed.

"In the 19th century, there was a growing concern among artists about the depletion of resources," she said. "American land conservation was important in 19th century America. National parks were founded so people would be able to see the beauty of this country. We have really gotten away from this mentality. This was my point with my Irish paintings: that open land is still out there and we have a choice to respect it."

Montes considers her landscapes to be different from those of other artists.

"I like to paint the land in its natural state with few buildings," she said. "I do some city scapes, but I only paint older regions in order to show that older buildings can be re-used."

Montes also uses animals as subjects for her works. "Three of my paintings are of horses," she said. "Even the animals in Ireland seem to be different. The cows and sheep are free to roam about in the roads. The Irish seem to have a better respect for nature."

Montes thinks her childhood may have contributed to her attitude about the world.

"I grew up on a farm in Oklahoma, and a lot of my friends were Native American," she said. "The Native Americans have a different set of beliefs about the land. They respect it much more. Few people work the land anymore, and many farms have become corporations. This greatly concerned me and started me thinking about conservation."

Montes hopes to continue her series focusing on conservation with other countries.