“Once Removed”

At first, the gorgeous painted florals and nature scenes created by Ann Marie Nafziger for her latest gallery show, “Once Removed,” at Lawndale Art Center, seem reminiscent of those of Georgia O’Keeffe — O’Keeffe with a taste for brighter colors and a hint of graffiti. At once über-modern and sentimentally romantic, Nafziger’s work explores the fusion between the influences of nature and modern mankind. In addition to work on canvas, Nafziger uses a vast array of materials, tools and media to stencil nature’s patterns right onto the gallery’s walls. Fortunately, Nafziger, who lives and works in Marfa and holds a master’s degree from the University of Houston, manages to resist preachy pronouncements on the destructiveness of humans while exploring the way they interact with the natural world around them. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Through January 10. 4912 Main. For information, call 713-528-5858 or visit www.lawndaleartcenter.org. Free.
Mondays-Saturdays. Starts: Nov. 21. Continues through Jan. 10, 2008