In the middle of the Holman Antique Plaza, there is a new oasis for local artists. Given the natural subjects of the show, it''s fitting that the gallery''s first exhibit is by a photographer who sees the importance between landscape and humans.

Denise Sallee will have her first one-woman show at La Petite Galerie, opened in January by Carole Guido-Haas (who is an artist herself). The images, in black-and-white and color, offer a new view of nature with a personal touch. Paintings and photographs by half a dozen local artists, such as Carolyn Berry, Peter Hughes, and Barbara Johnson, currently hang in the small gallery, but Sallee will be the first featured artist.

"I wanted a place to show local artists, at affordable prices," says Guido-Haas. "We also have advantages being in the Holman Building: a good accessibility for locals and visitors; we also enjoy the support of the owner of the building, Nader Agha." Mixed with the art are antiques, which add atmosphere to the gallery and help keep the art prices reasonable. "And it''s refreshing to be in a gallery where the focus is on art, more than commercialism," adds Sallee.

Denise Sallee works primarily with experimental cameras and techniques. Her "VisionScapes" exhibit focuses on "landscapes revisioned according to me," says Sallee. "I use the guidelines for classic photography, but then I go beyond. I don''t really get into the technical part, I just like images to convey a feeling." She has been working with a pinhole camera and black-and-white film for many of the "visionscapes," the result being small pictures slightly out of the norm in focus and perception.

Color is a relatively new medium for Sallee and her experimentation shows up again, painting nature in new hues that are vibrant in some pictures and muted in others. In a statement describing her color work, she says "Planet Earth--our home for now...Her beauty is not measured by our shallow yardsticks. Her beauty is awesome..."

Sallee enjoys creating art to "give people a chance to step into my world." Her world seems to consist of intimate images of nature, striking for their almost hand-tinted look and revealing in their "revisioned reality," as she likes to say. You will see new flowers shaped by a process she won''t divulge.

Guido-Haas, however, does want her "secret" gallery to be exposed and plans more shows of local artists. "Art is not exclusive. We welcome all to come and visit." cw

"VisionScapes" will be on display through the month of July, with a reception on July 5 from 3-5pm.

Henry Miller Library "The Alchemy of Possibility." Paintings and art work from Carolyn Mary Kleefeld''s book of the same name. Highway 1, just south of Nepenthe, Big Sur. 667-2574. Reception: 7/5, 2pm. Through: 7/31.

Morgan''s Coffee & Tea "Living and Breathing." Abstract paintings by Shane Ridenour. 498 Washington St., Monterey. 649-4613. Reception: 7/3, 7pm. Through: 7/31.

Art Listings

Carmel Art Association "Monterey County: A Colorful Past." Recent work by CAA artists depicting MoCo''s historical landmarks and artifacts. Also, works by Eileen Catbagan, Mary FitzGerald Beach, Frieda Golding, Susan Jordan and Wilda Northrop. Dolores Street, between 5th and 6th avenues, Carmel. 624-6176. Through: 8/5.

Chapman Gallery Works by SC Yuan, Hank Ketcham, Ron Elstad, Keith Lindberg and Colden Whitman. Also portrait artist Gail Reeves will be painting in the gallery every Saturday. 7th Avenue, between San Carlos and Mission streets, Carmel. 626-1766. Through: 9/6.

Fireside Gallery "Crossing the Mirror." The exhibit includes photographs from two bodies of work by Martha Casanave. One group features pinhole photographs of staged scenarios; the other, "Beware the Dog," includes close-up studies of peoples'' pooches. At the Highlands Inn, Highway 1, Carmel. 624-3801. Through: 7/27.

Gray''s Art Gallery "Jimi Claybrooks." Full-size reproductions of Claybrooks'' egg tempera paintings. 1104 Broadway Ave., Seaside. 899-1069. Through: 7/12.

Juice and Java Watercolors by Mary Ellen Okelberry. 599 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. 373-8652. Through: 7/16.

La Mirada "Fragile Traditions: The Art of the Asmat." Traditional works by native people of New Guinea from the collection of Loet Vanderveen; "Armin Hansen and William Ritschel: California Paintings from the Permanent Collection," through 7/26; "Gardens as Art and Sacred Space," an exhibit that combines photography, painting, and mixed-media installations that "rejoice in the extraordinary bloom of the garden, after our devastating winter." Featured artists are Elizabeth Murray, Mary Holmes, Susan Dorf and Jeanne J. Templeton, through 7/17. 720 Via Mirada, Monterey. 372-5477. Through: 7/17.

Monterey College of Law Plein aire paintings by Karen Kvenvold, sculptures by Kenneth Wiese. 404 Franklin St., Monterey. 659-3933. Through: 7/10.

Monterey Museum of Art "Jo Mora: Artist and Writer." Collection of paintings, drawings and sculptures. Also works by Marie Brumund. Through 8/16.. 559 Pacific St., Monterey. 372-5477. Through: 9/6.

Pacific Grove Art Center "Collective Visions." Photographic works by the 44-member group, The Image Makers. "In Twisted Color," photographs by Cheri Gyuro; "Naturally Stoned," sculptures by Lauren Becker; "Saturday''s Nudes," drawings by Betty Rees Heredia and class. 568 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. 375-2208. Through: 7/10.

Pajaro Valley Gallery "Collective ''98." New works by members of the Pajaro Valley Arts Council. 37 Sudden St., Watsonville. 722-3062. Through: 8/15.

PG Museum of Natural History "Leaping Elk, Dancing Men: Prehistoric Art of the Russian Altay." Photographs by Christopher Hulse. 165 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. 648-3116. Through: 8/16.

Rox Arcana Group show by members of Monterey Bay Metal Arts Guild featuring jewelry and other small metal works. Carmel Plaza, Ocean Avenue and Junipero Street, Carmel. 624-3122. Through: 7/31.

Sculpture House and Gardens "Spirit of the Human Form." All new works from Gay Gordon, Christopher Moon, Mark Bava and Jane Morba. Four miles south of Rio Road on Highway 1, Carmel Highlands. 624-2476. Through: 7/30.

Searle Art Watercolors by Mark Farina and works by his students from Carmel Adult School. 639 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey. 373-0126. Through: 7/31.

Seaside City Hall "We Color Outside the Lines." Works by Seaside art commissioners, past and present, including Walter Avery, Merlin Brown, Sandra Robinson Gray, Gloria C. Mattos Hughes, Patsy Hughes Irvine, Ed Krankshaw and Colleen Lingenfelter. 440 Harcourt Ave., Seaside. 899-6270. Reception: 7/10, 7pm. Through: 8/1.

Shallcross Gallery Abstract oil paintings and prints by Mira Kamada. Inside Galerie Monterey, 499 Calle Principal, Monterey. 655-0642. Through: 7/31.

Valley Art Gallery "Retro and Recent." Fiber art and basketry by Eloise Iverson. 218 Main St., Salinas. 455-1706. Reception: 7/10, 5pm. Through: 7/25.

Venture Art Gallery "I''d Rather be Sculpting." Abstract sculptures in several media by Ken Wiese. Resin-casting demonstration. 260 Alvarado Mall (in the DoubleTree Inn), Monterey. 372-6279. Reception: 7/18, 1:30pm. Through: 7/31.

Weston Gallery "Selected Artists." Photographic works by Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Irving Penn, Yousouf Karsh, Paul Strand and Imogen Cunningham. 6th Avenue, between Dolores and Lincoln streets, Carmel. 623-4453. Through: 8/31.

Winfield Gallery Large-scale ceramic sculptures of fruits and vegetables by Betty Spindler; "Symbols of Life," monotypes reflecting "symbology universal to all cultures and people" by Tracy Adams. 6th Avenue, between San Carlos and Dolores streets, Carmel. 624-3369. Through: 7/3.

Woman''s Wellspring Polaroid transfer photographs with hand painting by Clare Lerner. 575 Calle Principal, Monterey. 649-2320. Through: 7/31.

Zantman Art Galleries Premiere Carmel exhibit of still-life paintings by Robert Douglas Hunter. 6th Avenue and Mission Street, Carmel. 624-8314. Through: 7/10.