Artists Collective | Spartanburg member John Lever will present A Few Days in the Swamp, an exhibition of photography celebrating the wildlife and landscapes of Southwest Florida, Nov 3 – 28, 2026, at Artists Collective | Spartanburg.

A reception will be held during ArtWalk.

Southwest Florida is a landscape shaped by water. Much of the region lies only slightly above sea level, creating a remarkable network of cypress swamps, coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes, and pine flatwoods. These distinct ecosystems provide habitat for hundreds of animal species and form the visual heart of Lever’s exhibition.

Through approximately 20 photographs, A Few Days in the Swamp offers viewers a closer look at the natural richness of a region Lever has explored extensively during his travels.

“The inspiration for this exhibition comes from my travels in Southwest Florida and visits to many of the parks from Fort Myers south to the Everglades,” Lever says.

Rather than focusing solely on individual animals or scenic views, Lever’s photographs reflect the relationship between wildlife and the environment that sustains it. His images invite viewers to experience the quiet beauty, diversity, and complexity of Florida’s wetlands and wilderness areas.

Lever hopes the exhibition will also encourage viewers to think about the importance of protecting these landscapes.

“I hope people come away with a sense of the beauty and richness of this region,” he says, “and that it leads to greater support for the conservation of this wilderness.”

Photography has been part of Lever’s life since childhood, when he began taking pictures with a basic film camera. Although largely self-taught, he studied black-and-white film photography while attending Tulane University.

Lever grew up on the east coast of South Florida and has lived in Upstate South Carolina since 1986. His familiarity with Florida gives the exhibition a personal connection to the region, while years spent exploring its parks have allowed him to experience its landscapes through the eyes of both a native Floridian and a photographer.

His formal education took him in a different direction. Lever earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Tulane University and a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Although photography had long been an important part of his life, Lever says he began thinking of himself as an artist after joining Artists Collective | Spartanburg approximately 10 years ago.

The Collective has since become an important part of his artistic life.

“It is a great artist community,” Lever says of ACS, adding that he is excited to share this body of work with visitors.

A Few Days in the Swamp will feature approximately 20 photographic works, with pieces priced from $70 to $140.