FARMINGTON — Oscar Lazo, Chilean native and Boston educator, will be the artist of the month for October at SugarWood Gallery with a show titled “Arboretum.”

An open house reception will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. The public is invited and refreshments will be served.

Acrylic painting and collage are the two artistic techniques Lazo uses to express his thoughts and feelings. He said, “in general, my paintings represent, metaphorically, my inner/outer reactions to everyday events. Independent of the subjects, they are illustrations of stories, some profound, some ordinary, that live in the canvas and in me. Inspired by the woodwork exhibited at SugarWood Gallery, for this show, I put together ‘Arboretum,’ a group of painting and collages representing the natural source of wood: trees. The trees surrounding my studio in New Vineyard, Maine, are my constant inspiration.”

Lazo was born in Antofagasta, Chile, and received a Ph.D. in biological sciences from the Pontific Catholic University of Chile. He is a science teacher who has taught a wide range of students in both Chile and U.S., from middle school to post graduate level and in adult education programs.

He has held science teacher positions at Concepcion University of Chile, Catholic University of Chile, Medical University of South Carolina and at Harvard Medical School. Since 1997, he has worked as teacher, assistant principal and multicultural integration and support at Collins Middle School in Salem, Mass.

In 1987, he moved to the U.S. and to Boston in 1992. Since 2001, he has a retreat/studio in New Vineyard and has presented his artwork at solo and group exhibitions, at community events, public libraries, city halls, businesses and at open studios in Jamaica Plain, Lynn, Salem and Roslindale, Mass.

SugarWood Gallery is located at 248 Broadway. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.