Art is everywhere, and by extension, art galleries are everywhere. But sometimes it’s surprising to find a rotating art gallery in the visitor center of El Dorado Nature Center.
Photographer Michael Jude Adelmann certainly was when he went for a hike there eight months ago.
“I was pretty astounded,” he recalls. “All I knew was I wanted to get in it.” So popular is this gallery that Adelmann had to book his show eight months in advance. Even though Adelmann is a photographer, the art showcased at El Dorado Park has been a mix of mediums, from oil paints to pastels.
Debuting March 2 and 3, Adelmann’s exhibit, “A Walk in the Woods,” will feature a mixture of beautiful nature shots, but with an emphasis on mushrooms for all the mycophiles out there. Some of the photos Adelmann took in El Dorado Park, others in New England where his parents are.
“I remember one of the days, I was halfway under the porch taking shots, my mother comes out and starts freaking out, thinking I’m hurt,” he laughs. “No mom, I’m just taking photos.”
“Everywhere you look there is something tiny growing, a tiny part of existence. They’re just so fascinating,” he says about his miniscule subjects. Adelmann says one of the hardest aspects of the gallery was trying to figure out just what to exclude and what theme he really wanted to go with.
“A Walk in the Woods” was only decided on eight weeks ago, after he had spent the previous months taking as many photos as he could, along with searching for frames and acquiring the proper equipment to handle his own matte cutting and printing.
Even though his gallery will feature 40-60 photographs, what he is showing will only represent about 1% of the total number of frames he shot in all for this project. “You want it to be perfect,” he says, explaining why one sedentary mushroom received half a dozen different shots. “It’s maddening,” he remembers about one mushroom in particular, where he had to choose between two shots, each essentially the exact same frame. “That’s the difference between being a professional photographer and an enthusiast.”
And that was another aspect of the show he had to take into consideration, the commercial aspect. “I want the prints to be reasonably priced,” he says. “I really just want to share.” He hopes that by keeping his 8”x10” frames between $40-50, and 11”x14” between $60-80, that he can entice more customers.
Adelmann, who also has a day job, realizes that there is more to being a photographer than just taking pictures. Along with having to be able to sell his art, he also understands that marketing himself is equally as important. “There’s so much to do, and to learn,” he says. “It’s a little overwhelming. But I just have to do it. Not every part of my dream career is going to be a dream.”
“A Walk in the Woods” opens March 2 and 3 from 1PM-4PM and will be up all month. Adelmann will be on hand during the gallery opening to answer questions as well. El Dorado Park Nature Center & Art Gallery is located at 7550 E Spring St.
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