At the City Council’s Special Presentations on February 21st, Vice Mayor Stephen Shelley honored the South Florida National Parks Camera Club (SFNPCC), Homestead’s Artist in the Spotlight for February and March 2018. “Through Our Eyes: A Photographic Showcase of South Florida’s National Parks, National Preserves and Marine Sanctuaries,” opened at the Seminole Theatre on February 26 and will run through the end of March (confirm closing date).
Vice Mayor Shelley invited Hugh Hudson, SFNPCC president, to the front of the Council Chambers to talk about the club’s focus and activities. Hudson first took a moment to thank Vice Mayor Shelley and the City Council, “who helped pull all of this together.” He also acknowledged the Seminole Theatre’s Executive Director, Mickey McGuire, and its staff.
Explaining SFNPCC’s purpose, Hudson said, “We are principally about education. We’re lucky to have some professional and semi-professional photographers and artists that really share their expertise with members of the club.”
He continued, “Our other goals are to give back to the community and also support our national parks and marine sanctuaries. To this end, we provide support to the Homestead Rodeo, Homestead Mainstreet and some other non-profit organizations.”
The club has organized exhibits and volunteer projects at both Biscayne and Everglades National Parks, including rebuilding the rock reef boardwalk at Biscayne National Park. Hudson added, “We’re currently working with one of the biologists on documenting the biodiversity at Everglades National Park. The exhibit at the Seminole is the second exhibit we’ve done as a part of this program.”
Vice Mayor Shelley helped start SFNPCC in 2014 to provide a resource for local photographers that also embraced the National Parks. He said, “I’m very proud of this club and how it’s grown and how it’s developed.”
He continued, “[The SFNCC has] exceeded my expectations, not only in providing a venue for photographers to learn their craft and learn the trade, but also in giving back to the community. The many service projects you guys have done at all the parks, including building a boardwalk that probably would not have been funded and probably still wouldn’t be repaired [if it wasn’t for you]. I just want to publicly thank you and acknowledge all the great work you’re doing.”
“Through Our Eyes” is an eclectic collection of views and perspectives from 12 SFNCC members of many of South Florida's natural environments — from pinewood forests to Gulf Stream waters, from the flowing grasses of the Everglades to the southern terminus of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The exhibit includes the work of Barbara Livieri, Bob Richardson, Carmen Alex, Delfin Hernandez, Hugh Hudson, Jason Eldridge, Kim Eldridge, Louise Lindsay, Patricia Giraldo, Robert Chaplin, Susan Martinez and Susan Sorrentino. Most of the work exhibited is for sale.
About the South Florida National Parks Camera Club:
SFNPCC is starting in its fourth year and currently has 42 active members. It holds monthly meetings the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Villages of Homestead Clubhouse. It also holds field trips at least once a month. To find out more, visit www.sfnpcc.org.