Naturally

Kennedy Space Center’s VAB and the Max Brewer Bridge are merely distant intrusions in a world that remains magnificently wild, despite man’s attempt to tame it, as seen in Guardians of the Shoreline, an image selected by Smithsonian to share the importance of these ecosystems with a wider audience. JEFF THAMERT

Local photographers’ gallery makes space for creativity

Jeff Thamert in his element – capturing the beauty of the St. Johns River, one shot at a time. JEFF THAMERT

Landscape photography is much more than pretty scenery. Ansel Adams, the titan of that genre, noted that photography is visual storytelling rooted in the photographer’s very soul. A great photograph, he said, “fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed.”

Titusville photographer Jeff Thamert creates large-scale landscapes of mangroves, live oaks, cypress trees and beaches that render the familiar unique, thanks to his photographer’s perspective. One of his images was a winner in the Mangrove Photography Awards, an international competition held by the Mangrove Action Project to raise awareness and promote the conservation of mangrove forests by showcasing their beauty, biodiversity, and the threats they face. In Thamert’s photo, Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building and Max Brewer Bridge are merely distant intrusions into a world that remains magnificently wild, despite man’s attempts to tame it. Entitled Guardians of the Shoreline, it was among the images selected by Smithsonian Magazine to share the importance of these eco-systems with a wider audience.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to make landscape photography pay many bills. Running an art gallery doesn’t usually bring in the big bucks, either, but Thamert — together with his wife, a fellow photographer named Heidi — has made the unlikely formula work. The Thamerts’ Downtown Art Gallery has, for years, been an energetic promoter of the arts in Titusville. Heidi, who has created a series of unforgettable black and white images depicting the emotional topography found in hands, joins Jeff during yearly journeys to 15 to 20 art festivals. From Winter Park to Michigan, they show — and sell — their photos. October and November are extremely busy months for the couple: They’re slated to participate in shows in Viera, Cocoa Beach, Deland, Ocala and Gainesville, all while their Titusville gallery remains open to showcase the works of more than 20 of the county’s best artists. 

“The Thamerts have been committed to local art for over two decades,” said fiber artist Ann Welly Revels, who has exhibited at Downtown Art Gallery for eight years.

Photographers Heidi and Jeff Thamert this year celebrated 23 years of operating Downtown Art Gallery in Titusville. JEFF THAMERT PHOTOS

A Falcon 9 rocket arcs over Titusville’s Max Brewer Causeway in a Thamert image.

TOUGH TIMES

Rippling waters and a majestic cypress tree glowing beneath a St. Johns River sunset are captured by Jeff Thamert in Meant to Be. JEFF THAMERT

The couple opened their small gallery and frame shop in Titusville a year after 9/11. “It was an unpredictable time,” Heidi recalled. 

Indeed, several excellent local galleries have come and gone on the Space Coast since Downtown Art Gallery opened. When the Shuttle Program shut down, many North Brevard merchants — the Thamerts included — feared a repeat of the economic devastation that Titusville suffered after the end of the Apollo program in the early ’70s. Fortunately, the fears were unfounded. Even the era of COVID didn’t get Downtown Gallery down; the Thamerts pivoted with the times. 

“We used it as a time to explore the United States, camping and backpacking in our national parks and photographing the gorgeous landscapes of America,” Heidi said.

The Thamert’s little gallery not only survived, but it has thrived, growing from its original 800-square-feet storefront to a 2,500-square-foot stand-alone art space at 400 Orange St. that serves both as exhibit space and venue for many special art-centered events such as outdoor art markets on the patio.

“We wanted it to be a gathering space where people can come together, connect and enjoy a welcoming experience,” Heidi said. “We love hosting fun parties and special events highlighting local area talent.”

Creativity ranges across the artistic spectrum and at times even flows into the performing arts, with live music. Wine and a charcuterie add to festivities.

“We get a lot of regulars,” said Yvette Whitmore, who has exhibited at Downtown Art for 16 years. “The gallery is so unique. Heidi and Jeff promote a sense of family, both with their artists and their customers. Titusville is blessed to have them.”

Heidi Thamert helps customers select frames for their art at Downtown Art Gallery.

Summer of 72 as interpreted by Jeff Thamert. JEFF THAMERT PHOTOS

GRATEFUL TRANSPLANTS

Jeff Thamert loves the way the light hits these piles of fishing nets in an old wooden boat in his piece titled Caribbean Fishing. JEFF THAMERT

Although indefatigable cheerleaders of all things Florida and particularly Brevard, the Thamerts are “natives” by choice, not by birth. Jeff grew up in the Pacific Northwest; Heidi is from Northern Michigan. They met in Titusville at the late, great Kloiber’s Cobbler Eatery. Jeff had come down to work at the restaurant, which his aunt and uncle once owned. Heidi had moved here with her family and got a job there, too.

“We connected with our love of photography and the outdoors,” Heidi said. 

They both favor large-format imagery, in sizes that range up to 48×72. While Jeff, long ago, went digital with his photos, Heidi still favors black-and-white film — negatives and all. Other than the development of the negatives, the whole printing process is done in-house at the gallery. On museum-quality paper, prints are then mounted on board and given a liquid UV coating that adds texture and negates the need for glass. Jeff frames the photos at the shop, too. From printing and mounting to cutting and constructing custom frames, Jeff oversees every detail with the care of a true artisan dedicated to creating a work that will last a lifetime.

The styles of the two photographers couldn’t be more different. “Where Jeff focuses on wide spectrums, Heidi’s camera finds inspiration in small everyday objects,” Welly Revels said. 

Heidi’s black-and-white images document the beauty of hands and the tasks they engage in. Each photo tells a story: a cook kneading bread, a grandmother holding an infant’s hand, a fisherman baiting a hook, an elderly couple holding hands to celebrate a lifetime of love. What the Thamerts share is an innate talent for transporting viewers into a healing, serene space. 

Denny Rodenbaugh and her husband, Mike, also delight in sharing the natural beauty of Brevard — but to do so, they depend on their fleet of St. Johns Airboat Tours. Jeff has often photographed them. 

“Jeff and Heidi are both incredibly talented, each expressing their creativity in unique and meaningful ways,” said Denny. “By combining their artistic vision, they’ve turned Downtown Art Gallery into a welcoming hub where other artists are invited to share their passion. Their art and their dedication to sharing with others reflect the true spirit of creativity and connection. Together, they’ve created something truly special.”

The Angel Oak captures the quintessential Southern live oak.  JEFF THAMERT

Timeless Explorer is part of Heidi Thamert’s series of images of hands. Heidi was honored to meet astronaut Mike McCulley and capture his story through her lens. HEIDI THAMERT

Downtown Art Gallery serves as a hub for the visual arts in Titusville. JEFF THAMERT

Downtown Art Gallery

400 Orange St., Titusville

321-268-0122

thedowntownartgallery.com

See the original article in print publicationhttps://spacecoastliving.com/emags/SCLHoliday25OnlineEdition/index.htm