Hanging Out in Biscayne National Park to Open at Biscayne National Park Gallery

Miami photographic artist Brian Trainor’s solo exhibition Hanging Out in Biscayne National Park opens at Biscayne National Park’s Dante Fascell Visitor Center Gallery on Friday, November 20 with a “meet the artist” wine-and-cheese reception from 6-9 pm. The evening features an opportunity to speak with the artist, hear about his work and bid in a silent auction for an original photograph. The show itself runs through February 15, 2010. Both the show and the reception are free and open to the public. The Dante Fascell Visitor Center is located at 9700 SW 328 Street, 9 miles east of Homestead, Florida.

A former Active Duty photographer in the US Navy, Trainor has spent nearly 30 years developing his skills as a photographer, and this show is nearly two years in the making. Although he shoots with a digital camera, Trainor never manipulates his photos after they are taken. Rather, he plays with focus and exposure to create a unique perspective. He will often nondestructively manipulate the scene to add interest to otherwise mundane objects. Where more traditional photographers might focus on the sun in a sunrise photo, Trainor’s lens is pointing down at the water, camera askew at an odd angle. Mangrove trees against a bright blue sky are photographed through a watery medium for a fish’s view. Even debris washed in along the park’s shoreline becomes beautiful in Trainor’s photos.

“Brian’s photographs offer a very different perspective on the park compared to our previous artists,” said Park Ranger Gary Bremen. “Where many photographers capture the park’s stunning landscapes and wildlife, Brian focuses on small details from unique perspectives. His work definitely engages people in intriguing and often delightful ways.”

All works in the show are available for purchase directly from the artist, and Trainor has donated one photograph to the South Florida National Parks Trust to be sold to the highest bidder in a silent auction at the opening reception on November 20. “Instead of choosing one photo that would appeal to many people, I decided to let the highest bidder choose their favorite and I’ll custom-print it for them,” said Trainor.

Hanging Out in Biscayne National Park is part of the park’s Community Artists program, started in 1997 as an outlet for the works of both established and emerging artists who are inspired by the beauty of Biscayne National Park. The program is made possible by the South Florida National Parks Trust through the generosity of Miami-Dade County’s Cultural Affairs Division, The First National Bank of South Florida and Sedano’s Supermarkets.

For further information on the exhibit, call 305-230-7275, or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/bisc or Brian Trainor’s website at www.BrianTrainorPhotography.com. To receive regular updates about Biscayne National Park, follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BiscayneNPS.