We had the good fortune of connecting with Clark Schiring and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Clark, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk has certainly been a dominating factor in Wilderness Exclusives’ evolution, particularly in the move to a brick-and-mortar Gallery in March of 2020. This was a risky move even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. A lot of people might use this to justify failure, I’ve decided to use this challenging business environment to galvanize my resolve.

I’ve managed to keep my head above water, with a certain amount of style, and gain some valuable wisdom in the past couple of years— how lucky I am to open this Gallery at all. Had I waited, I probably would have started another job, which could have turned into a new career–all the while leaving me wondering “what if?” God, I am so glad I don’t have a head full of “what if’s”–that’d drive me crazy. A two-year-plus viral pandemic? I can handle that; I just can’t imagine doing anything other than exploring the world through photography and sharing it with new and curious people.

Being a relatively new artist is another risk that I embrace. Most of the people that visit the Gallery are seeing my work for the first time, and I love watching them experience it.  I get to see the look in their eyes when they connect with the beauty of Mother Nature via these images. So, that is an aspect of risk-taking that has been positive, and fuels my desire to get out and do what I love.

I’ve always felt my heart belonged in the mountains, and luckily my wife, Amanda, grew to feel that way as well–most notably the first time we visited Frisco-a town I’ve always loved–not only is this one of the best places to find yourself if you’re a snowboarder, but year-round, I am enamored by the towering peaks, the clean air and beautiful days hiking or out on the lake…it’s paradise.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I strive to create images that convey the intangible-the feelings that a natural scene evokes. “Naturescape Interpretations.” Sometimes I’m just in the right place at the right time, and some images are the result of months chasing down a particular concept.

Whether I get the shot on the first try or after revisiting a location several times, I know that an image has that intangible quality when I catch myself staring at it and I can hear it, I can smell it and I feel as though I’m experiencing it for the first time all over again. That way, I can be assured that the viewer is probably going to be able to appreciate it in their own right.

What I try to capture with my camera is like a song that takes the listener back to nostalgic time in life. Art has that ability; music is notorious for this, but there is something special about connecting with a piece of visual art, we have an ability to connect easily with things we see and experience.


Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m already counting down the days until my Fall Photography Workshop! It’s an experience that’s tough to beat.

We start early in the morning in Carbondale, and we work our way up the Crystal River Valley where the vibrant yellow foliage is really set-off from the crimson rock from which the valley is etched. We visit aspen groves starting on McClure Pass and make our way towards Crested Butte. It’s important to get good rest in between sessions, and this magical town has a “play hard rest easy” vibe. The Gas Stop Cafe is an absolute must for a breakfast sandwich creation! From Crested Butte, we take one day and explore the Gunnison River Valley, with its beautiful Cottonwoods and Scrub Oak with the smooth flowing waters of the Gunnison River as a backdrop.

Ohio and Kebler Pass offer myriad opportunities to explore beautiful Aspen groves with towering peaks of the Anthrocite and Rugged Mountain ranges, among others, in the background. One could do as many of these side trips as they desired, then return to Carbondale in the evening, and shoot McClure Pass and the Crystal River Valley “in a new light!” A stop at Slow Groovin’ BBQ in Marble for the best pulled pork this side of Memphis is an absolute must and is a tremendous bookend to this Colorado expedition. I can only take a few people on these workshops, so if you’re interested refer to my website or Instagram for more information!

 

 

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
It takes a village. There are so many people that have shared tremendous love and support throughout the years in all aspects of my life. I credit my positive mindset and confidence to this incredible support network which makes it so easy to focus on the positive things that are to happen both presently and in the future.

My family is so supportive, starting with my Dad (I was really close with my Mom while she was alive, and I can feel her presence in the Gallery during both the beaming moments of triumph but most especially during a gritty project), to my Aunts (Donna and Linda), Uncle Jules, my cousins Scott and Susana, and Mark and Ana are always there to support me–I wish I could see them out in Ohio more often. My in-laws Deb and Darrel are the type of people that are so deeply loving and fun to bounce ideas around with, and they are just so awesome with the huge amount of credence they’ve given this crazy idea of mine.

The Town of Frisco was great to work with in establishing the business, and they also support the locals in fostering growth and development through various festivals and other special events that make the Town so special.

The next goal for Wilderness Exclusives is to start collaborating with other artists and establish new programs to get people young and old interested in photography and the arts in this area.

The intersection of visual arts and music is a subject I’m starting to explore, also. We just threw Wilderness Exclusives’ Grand Opening and Mark Farina stopped by to treated us to one of his world-famous Mushroom Jazz sets-the vibe he brought to the party coupled with the response to the artwork on the walls was amazing! The Gallery set was tethered to Mark’s show at the 10 Mile Music Hall next door, later in the evening. This was a great way to establish a relationship between the Gallery and the music venue, and a great jumping-off point for the exploration and cross-pollination of artistic concepts.

Website: www.wildernessexclusives.com

Instagram: @wildernessexclusives

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clark-schiring-b35132238/

Twitter: @CSchiring

Facebook: wildernessexclusives

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