To Create. To Desire. To Grow. To Nurture. To Dream. To Inspire. These words are not a slogan; they are the titles of paintings . . . paintings that fluidly progress in color, brushstroke by brushstroke. From July 9, 2015 through September 4, 2015, the Birmingham Public Library will showcase the work of local artist Matthew Mayes in the Central Library’s Fourth Floor Gallery. Arresting acrylic paintings bold in color, texture, and depth make up the exhibit Layers of Meaning: Paintings by Matthew Mayes. The public is invited to meet the artist at the opening reception on Sunday, July 19, 2015, from 2:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., in the Central Library’s Boardroom adjacent to the gallery.  Visitors will see why Mayes considers his work to be “studies in color perception, definition, and composition.” ABOUT THE ARTIST Born in Florence, Alabama, Matthew Mayes is self-taught with over 12 years of experience as a professional artist. He currently resides in Birmingham with his partner Brian and their son Noah. Mayes began painting as a child after watching the television program Joy of Painting with Bob Ross. Mayes experienced a number of stints with hospitalization and home schooling due to illness and needed an outlet for his creativity—art was his answer and it gave his life meaning. “Once, I believed that love, food, and music were the core passions that transcended all race, creed, and color. Now, I know that art encompasses all,” he states.  Regarding his creative process, Mayes observes, “I allow natural ability combined with a trained eye to create. Without both, my art could not exist.”