American Orchid Society Presents “My Secret Garden” Photo Exhibition September 28, 2008

The American Orchid Society (AOS) will be hosting My Secret Garden, a breathtaking photo exhibition featuring works by acclaimed orchid and flora photographer, Tom Kuligowski. Many of the images to be displayed were taken from Kuligowski’s private orchid collection, grown over the past 10 years. The exhibition will open September 29 and will run through October 26. Admission to My Secret Garden is free to the public with paid entry to the American Orchid Society.

On October 10, a special exhibition reception hosted by photographer Tom Kuligowski will be held from 5 - 7pm. Light refreshments will be served. The reception is free and open to the public.

A buffalo, NY native, Kuligowski relocated to South Florida in 1978. After receiving his Associate of Arts Degree in photography from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, he honed his craft working at a variety of studios as a black and white technician, doing photographic retouching and enhancement by hand and eventually becoming a lead photographer in the studio business. Over the last six years, Kuligowski has turned to the use of computers to digitally enhance and manipulate his photographic images. His use of very saturated color and various computer techniques alters the subject to give his interpretations of what nature has created. Although many of the pieces created are abstract, color, texture and basic shape is seldom compromised. He insists that under no circumstances are his pieces anything but digitally manipulated photographs – they are not drawings or paintings in any way, shape or form. Over the past year and a half, he has started embellishing some of his work with various materials such as cotton, nylon, silk, metal leafs (gold, silver, copper and various iron oxides), along with several types of glass and crushed lava.

“Exhibiting at the American Orchid Society’s headquarters is a dream come true,” said Kuligowski. “The majority of my subject matter deals with orchids that I have grown or photographed in my travels. It is the perfect location to showcase my work with orchids to both professionals in the field and enthusiasts alike.”

For more information about Tom Kuligowski, please visit www.artimages.us.

For more information about the exhibition or about AOS, please contact Valerie Smith at 561-404-2052 or via e-mail [email protected]. ABOUT THE AMERICAN ORCHID SOCIETY: With nearly 18,000 members around the world, the AOS is recognized as a leader in orchid education, research, and conservation. It is the largest special-interest horticultural organization in the world. The AOS Visitors Center and Botanical Garden has also become a popular site for corporate meetings and special events, such as weddings and private parties. The AOS facility and gardens are open to the public daily from 10am until 4:30pm. Admissions are $10 for adults and free for children under 12. Seniors 65 and older receive $1 off regular admission. The AOS Botanical Garden is located at 16700 AOS Lane, Delray Beach, FL 33446. For more information, please call 561-404-2000 or visit www.aos.org.

Official Website: http://www.aos.org