The Hammond Regional Arts Center opened its doors on September 11 for a two‑week showcase that brings together the vibrant visions of two Louisiana painters whose work is steeped in the state’s natural world.

Emily Seba’s series, titled Open Season, is a celebration of the wildlife that roams Louisiana’s swamps and bayous. After a childhood marked by frequent hospital stays and a recent stroke that temporarily stole the use of her left side, Seba returned to the canvas with a renewed urgency. Her paintings, rendered in bold line and colour, echo the first sketches she made on hospital walls, turning personal resilience into a visual ode to the animals she loves.

Across the gallery, Rebecca Madura presents Nature as the Source, a body of work that balances careful observation with an abstract sense of colour and light. A longtime educator at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, Madura draws on her teaching of realism while allowing the memory of a scene to guide each brushstroke. The result is a series of pieces that feel both familiar and unexpectedly fresh, inviting viewers to linger on the interplay of shadow and hue.

Visitors have responded enthusiastically, noting the distinct yet complementary approaches of the two artists. Comments highlight Seba’s therapeutic return to art and Madura’s inventive use of colour, underscoring how the exhibition not only enriches Hammond’s cultural landscape but also celebrates the perseverance and creativity of Louisiana’s artistic community.

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