Spring has sprung indoors — at Art in Bloom photography show at Pittsburgh Mills

Spring is more than in the air, with 60 photos and pieces of artwork depicting spring flowers at the Art in Bloom floral and photography show at the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer.

The art is being displayed until May 15 at Focus on the Arts Gallery in the mall. The work of 10 photographers and artists from the Alle-Kiski Valley are being showcased.

Gallery visitors who cast a ballot for their favorite works can enter a drawing. The first-place prize is a $25 gift card for any mall store, second place is two tickets to the GQT movie theater and third place is 20% off theater concessions.

Residents can tour the large, airy studio in the mall for free from 5 to 8 p.m. Fridays and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

The New Kensington Camera Club has presented the spring floral photo and art show for at least six years, said Joel Varga of Harmar, club president.

With more people vaccinated for covid-19 after a long year of pandemic restrictions, “people are itching to get out,” he said. The gallery offers an art-filled space large enough for residents, who are required to wear masks, to tour safely.

The spring photo show offers a convenient and comfortable way to view the work of local photographers and artists.

“My vision is for the gallery to become a place for people to hang out and network,” Varga said.

Harry Shipman of New Kensington, past club president and a photographer, is one of the exhibitors. He often shoots photographs of wildlife, flowers and landscapes at Burrell Lake Park, Northmoreland Park and Crooked Creek.

“Half of the pleasure of taking a photograph is sharing it, and that’s what this gallery and spring show do,” he said.

“We couldn’t imagine how bright and cheery this gallery space could be,” Shipman said. It’s all about lighting — lots of lights — courtesy of Varga’s guidance.

Mark Flowers of West Deer might attract some attention, given his name, in a spring photo contest. But he’ll have stiff competition: Two of his relatives also will be submitting photographic works — his daughter, Diane Flowers, of West Chester and daughter-in-law, Marie Flowers, of Springdale.

Flowers uses a Nikon digital SLR and thousands of dollars worth of camera equipment, while his family competition uses an iPhone.

“I hope they don’t beat me out with an iPhone,” he said.

Flowers likes to shoot in Deer Lakes Park, especially in the spring to capture the flowering trees.

Besides the camera club membership, the spring show received work to display by members of the Allegheny Valley League of Artists in Murrysville and East Suburban Artists League in Lower Burrell.

There are more than 500 original photos and pieces of artwork by local residents that range in price from $25 to $1,000 at the gallery.