ost of the time, it's not par- ticularly pleasant being bitten by a bug. Ticks, mos-

quitoes, bees, killer ants, and large, ag- gressive, unidentifiable buzzing things with wings tend to provoke adverse emotional and physical reactions in hu- man beings.

But there is one bug that artist Sum- mer Barcenas welcomes being attacked, and bitten, by:

"I was bitten by the travel bug years ago, and continuous travel is my medi- cine," the Walla Walla painter says.

"The main theme of my art is wan- derlust."

"I want to open people's minds to the journey, the exploration, and the beauty of each culture, country and place."

Barcenas's travel experience began as a teenager, when her family uprooted from Walla Walla and traveled around Europe for two years before returning to Walla Walla. Impatient to go back to Europe, Barcenas applied to be an ex- change student in France. To earn money for the endeavor, she arranged a solo art show at the age of 17, selling large acrylics on canvas of bright, colorful images that invite the viewer to step in and experience the emotion of the scene.

Upon returning from her second sojourn overseas, Barcenas lost herself in her art studio, recreating the places she spent time in and found so inspiring.

"When people look at my art, I want

them to feel something – I want them to

feel the emotion that I pour into each

Courtesy photo

Motovun by Summer Barcenas

painting, because every piece of art is

dedicated to a moment in my life when I was full of emotion.

"Awe, wonder, excitement, tranquility, everything. When people look at my art, I want them to feel those emotions, to step into that painting and experience it for themselves."

Describing painting not as a hobby, but as a way of life, Barcenas feels that through her paintbrush, she can travel anywhere. And through her paintings, she invites the viewer to join her.

Summer Barcenas is the featured Pacific Northwest Art Event at Wenaha Gallery (219 E. Main, Dayton) through June 29. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.