Nature's Masterpieces: Chicago Wilderness and Beyond

by Ray Mathis

On Display: Jun 25 – Jul 24

Artists Reception
Friday, Jul 9, 7 pm

Artist Demonstration
Thursday, Jul 8, 7 pm

Nature’s Masterpieces: Chicago Wilderness and Beyond

by Ray Mathis

On Display Jun 25 – Jul 24

By walking through a forest or standing on the beach of a pristine lake, one can experience the beauty of the surroundings if one takes the time to see it. With this motto in mind, landscape photographer Ray Mathis shows his deep respect, gratitude, and appreciation for nature’s masterpieces through his images.  As a child, he set a goal of never missing a sunrise or sunset in his life.  Most of his photographs are products of these experiences.  By sharing his works with others, he hopes to motivate people to seek out similar views of the natural world for themselves so they can help protect and preserve what remains for future generations.

Before devoting himself to photography, Ray Mathis was a successful high school teacher, speaker, and author on health education topics.  Although he graduated with degrees in psychology and education from the University of Illinois, he is a self-taught photographer.  For over twenty-four years, he has traveled the United States extensively and has photographed many of our best scenic areas. He wants to give the viewer the sense of being able to step into his images, and he makes that transition by including objects in his photographs that are both a few feet away and far off in the distance.  Mathis’ landscape photography can be found on postcards, calendars, in books on western national parks, commercial publications, and numerous conservation and sports (Hiking) magazines.  Ray has won an array of grand prizes for his work and exhibits his images at numerous museums, libraries, and other venues.

Ray Mathis Artist Demonstration

Thursday, Jul 8, 7 pm

Adults, Young Adults

Join Gallery in the Library Exhibitor Ray Mathis as he discusses and demonstrates his technique of Large Format photography.  Mathis will debunk many photography myths by demonstrating how to shoot INTO the sun and how to take a photograph with objects a few feet away and far in the distance without losing focus.

Registration required. Meeting Room A