Holly Hacker

NEW ULM -- Holly Hacker used to plan out everything she put down on canvas, but these days, she rarely makes plans anymore.

Instead, she puts paint to canvas whenever she's feeling inspired by aspect of her life.

But don't expect the traditional from Hacker.Instead, anyone who goes to see her show "Rules of Engagement."which opened Saturday at the Kiesling House Gallery, should expect to be engaged by the many swirls of color she puts down with her oil pastels.

A 1998 New Ulm High School graduate, Hacker earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and will soon start working on a master's degree in fine arts at Iowa State University in Ames.

Her journey into art started with her drawings she did as a girl.

"If I could look at it, I could draw it," she said.

She took up painting in high school and later perfected her technique of taking a human form and turning into an abstract image.
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While Hacker has shown her work with groups -including CANU -- before, 'Rules Of Engagement' is her first solo gig.

In the future, she plans to teach art classes in college.She was teaching art at MSU and at the St. Peter Alternative School.