 Some artists say their work has no message. They want their art to stand for itself, insisting it just is, even as one gazes at it, discerning multiple layers of beauty and shades of meaning. Nedra Matteucci’s renowned Christmas tribute reminds me of this. From the waist-high German nutcrackers to the glittery bulbs fashioned from Mt. Saint Helens’ ashes, from the Spanish Colonial angel candlesticks to the Christopher Radko Santa Clauses, it is a brilliant show of colors, shapes, and textures—certainly befitting one of the Southwest’s most notable art matrons. But the true artistry of this Christmas pageantry is to be found in its acts of giving, and yet Nedra will insist that there is no great philosophy behind it all. “I simply enjoy it,” she says. Her place has become a “must” stop for many during
the season. Long-time friends plan their holidays around a visit to her home, with its century-old walls descending the hill, its labyrinth of paths lit by white lights, and its star decorations glowing against the dark cottonwoods.
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