He is a man that has been a fixture in Mexico for the past few years as a gentleman of faith and a man with an eye for photography.

Rev. Eric R. Mattson, moved to Mexico in 2017, and has doubled as Senior Pastor of Mexico United Methodist Church and an artist/photographer that many have seen at all types of events, including as a fixture at recent Miss Missouri pageants.

Last weekend, he played host to his own “Beauty Revealed: Illumination of the Soul,” exhibit at Presser Arts Center as a personal project that explored the importance of Miss Missouri to Mexico.

“The project ended up documenting a year in which a Mexico contestant, Callie Cox, won the competition,” Mattson said. “The exhibit was presented in a black-and-white format in part to cast light on the soul of the pageant and participants. It’s easy to get lost in the colorful sizzle and splendor, glamor and glitz of the show.

Color affords a space to let the senses play and have fun, which is a good thing.
“This exhibit cannot do adequate justice to the souls which displayed a beauty which is far from the stereotypical expectation.”

Mattson couldn’t present all the pictures he hoped to, such as more candid shots which he deemed more private to those individuals.

“This curated body of work was a slice of something which is beyond articulation,” Mattson said. “By using black-and-white, this week in time takes on a timeless dimension. Black-and-white takes the viewer into the strange world of a dreamscape if you will. When looking at the color images, there seemed to be a nagging souvenir photo feeling which begged color to be set aside for this project.

“These images attempt to, in some small way, give the viewer a hint of the vulnerable and brave souls assembled for a week of transformation, exploration of growth areas, opportunities to gain some self-confidence.”
Mattson began to dabble in photography in middle school, and it immediately became a passion.

He ultimately graduated from college with degrees in accounting and finance and became a banker after matriculating.

While in that vocation of 16 years, he received a traditional MBA from Rockhurst University in Kansas City.

Later, Mattson switched careers and went into vocational ministry after receiving his M.Div. from Asbury Theological Seminary.

Yet, photography still bubbled at the surface of his motivations throughout.
Although his freelance and artistic pursuits have involved him in many genres of photography in various capacities both published and unpublished, his primary photographic interests include fine art, street photography, concerts and events (including being house photographer for the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau and sports).

Photography is his primary chosen medium of artistic expression, and his work has been exhibited in various galleries.

“When I first moved to Mexico, my interest in beauty pageants was that it was time to move on them,” Mattson said. “This was based upon held stereotypes and biases. What changed that was getting to know Sarah Kasubke, who attended the church where I’m Senior Pastor. She did not fit my expectations. And, to me, it’s important to care about the things the people I care about care about.

“The Miss Missouri Pageant was something the Kasubke family cared about, and because I care about them, it became important for me to look under the hood and kick the tires. It’s not enough to seem to care about it, so my intent was to determine if caring with authenticity was doable.”

Mattson slowly immersed himself in the culture and community of Miss Missouri and his curiosity was fed.

It ultimately led to the exhibit in Presser after being asked to do something in that vein.

“What I witnessed was enough to change my initial mindset,” Mattson said. “That pageant is of worth today. What I observed was young women not so much competing to see who was more beautiful than the other women as competing against themselves to become the best version of themselves they could be. They were learning about themselves in the process.

“While there may have been some exceptions, they were supporting each other and building relationships. Many of them were displaying considerable courage and vulnerability to step onto that stage. They weren’t shrinking back from meaningful struggle and possible disappointment, and in the process, were gaining in self-confidence, strengthening coping mechanisms, and for many of them learning how to take a loss and forge from it something positive.”

Mattson ultimately became a fan of his subjects and realized the worth of Miss Missouri to Mexico.

He also won’t be slowing down with the camera any time soon.

“It has become how I process the world around me much like many people journal,” he said. “It is one way I create art. It’s how I give back to the community, how I become involved in the lives of people for whom I care and show them they’re noticed and valued.”