• Editor’s note: I have been so pleased to introduce Yelm Blog readers to the variety of talented artists this community possesses. Continuing in that manner, I welcome Marcia Keilee and her photographic work to this blog’s readers. I have known Marcia for over 20 years and acknowledge her for giving so much to the Yelm area.
• Keilee has been a champion in recognizing Yelm as the “Historic Gateway to Mount Rainier” and with her artistic connection to the mountain.
• Keilee said she was inspired watching “the sunrise on Mt. Rainier from [her Bald Hills home] and that left me with a profound understanding of the enormous beauty and love this Earth offers us continuously – for free.”
• As such, Mount Rainier National Park Guest Services invited Keilee to the Paradise Inn this summer to sign her featured photo gifts for Park visitors.
• The Yelm area public is invited to meet Ms. Keilee as she shows and sells prints from two of her photo series at the Yelm Farmers Market on Saturday, June 29th.

• From Ms. Keilee’s media release:

“Yelm is increasingly noted as an historic gateway city to Mount Rainier, and to have local artists recognized for their artistic connection to the mountain reinforces not only the “gateway,” but also the city’s very personal relationship with the mountain.

“Visit Mount Rainier gift stores this summer and you might see items from Yelm’s very own artist and photographer, Marcia Keilee. For the past six years, Keilee has welcomed the day from her outdoor sleeping porch. ‘I like to be out there with my camera every morning to see the sunrise on the mountain. The light and clouds are continuously changing and even seconds make a difference in the color of the sky, the winking of a star, or the formation of lenticular clouds. I’m so grateful to be able to experience these beautiful gifts every morning.’

“Recently, a friend introduced Keilee to the gift store buyers at Mount Rainier National Park Guest Services. In coordination with their current focus on glaciers, they purchased Keilee’s photos for their Paradise and Longmire gift stores where a portion of the profits from sales goes to the National Park. Keilee had taken close ups of the glaciers while hiking above Paradise. ‘The glaciers are gracious natural phenomena that feed our river ecosystems affecting everything and all of us downstream in this region. I photographed the glaciers like I do portraits-as living beings- from a more intimate viewpoint available at higher altitudes. I’m just thrilled they will be sold in the gift stores with some of the proceeds going to the National Park’. As an acknowledgement of her photographic talents and her connection to the mountain, Guest Services has invited Keilee to the Paradise Inn this summer to sign her featured photo gifts for Park visitors.”

Bottom line: Ms. Keilee will be showing and selling prints from two series at the Yelm Farmers Market on June 29th. One is called “Many Mornings, One Mountain” and the other is called “Glorious Glaciers,” which will include some of the photos that were chosen for the National Park gift stores.