ELC presents Wild and Beautiful: A Global Photography Exhibition by Mark and Cheri Schumann
This winter, the Environmental Learning Center (ELC) will unveil a deeply moving exhibition titled Wild and Beautiful, featuring the wildlife and travel photography of husband and wife team Mark and Cheri Schumann. Their work spans continents and climates, offering a rare window into encounters that are as intimate as they are awe-inspiring.
The exhibition opens in January and highlights years of photographic exploration through Antarctica, Alaska, the American West, Europe, and Africa. Each image reflects not only the beauty of the natural world but the emotional journey that shaped the artists behind the lens.
A Vero Beach Story That Became a Global Journey
Although the Schumanns reside in Santa Fe, their roots in Vero Beach run deep. Mark’s family has lived here for generations, and the couple returns several times a year to reconnect with loved ones and the community. Their longstanding relationship with the ELC makes this exhibition especially meaningful. Every print displayed in “Wild and Beautiful” has been donated by the artists, with 100% of proceeds supporting the Environmental Learning Center and its mission.
Cheri’s Story: Loss, Wildlife Encounters, and the Art That Emerged
The emotional center of this exhibition is Cheri’s personal story. During a photography expedition in Antarctica, she learned that her sister’s long fight with cancer was nearing its end. She returned home just in time to say goodbye. The weeks and months that followed reshaped the way she approached her craft.
On subsequent trips, Cheri experienced a series of wildlife encounters that felt almost guided. A walrus surfaced so close that it filled her frame. The guide gently rested a hand on her knee and said, “Stay still. Your energy brought that walrus to you.” The resulting portrait, shot on film and rendered in black and white, has become one of the most striking pieces in the exhibition.
Cheri also photographed a polar bear that rose beneath the porthole of their ship, filling the entire viewfinder. Moments later a mother and two cubs approached and lingered, creating an experience so powerful she stepped away afterward to regain her composure. For Cheri, these encounters became reminders of connection, healing, and presence, and they live on in the images she now shares with the world.
Photography as Connection, Perspective, and Legacy
The Schumanns’ work spans three continents, capturing brown bears in Alaska, elephants in Africa, penguins and ice formations in Antarctica, polar bears in the Arctic, and sweeping landscapes across Europe and the American West.
At its core, the exhibition reflects a belief shared by both artists. Their images invite viewers to feel that same connection: to stand in the presence of something vast, alive, and humbling. True encounters with wildlife offer a powerful reminder of our place in a much larger living system.
Special Events at the Environmental Learning Center
Artist Meet and Greet
January 9, 2026, 4-6 PM at the ELC
Guests will enjoy live music, refreshments, and the opportunity to meet photographers Mark & Cheri Schumann, learn about the exhibition, and view the full collection. Free and open to the public. Registration is appreciated, but not required.
Sponsored by Northern Trust.
Artist Talk: Wildlife and Travel Photography
February 17, 2026 from 5:00 to 6:30 PM
Mark and Cheri Schumann will share the stories behind their most compelling images and discuss the field experiences that shaped their work.
Visit the Environmental Learning Center
Location: 255 Live Oak Drive, Vero Beach, FL
Exhibition Dates: January and February 2026
Information: www.discoverelc.org
Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email news@indianrivermedia.com