Mark Muse cups a glass of wine, as he chats with friends and local art lovers at his exhibit in the Shepherdstown Public Library on Friday. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — After one week of delay, due to bad weather, the opening reception for Shepherdstown resident Mark Muse’s new photography exhibit was held in the Shepherdstown Public Library on Friday night.

The exhibit will be up in the library’s gallery through March 1.

“The turnout’s been great! A lot of people are familiar with Mark’s work and are happy to be able to come out. There were definitely a lot of people who were disappointed with the snow last week, so they were really happy that we were able to reschedule the opening reception,” said Shepherdstown Public Library Director Christy Hagerty. “Hopefully, people will want to buy, too. We get 30 percent of overall sales.”

According to Hagerty, Muse was the second and final artist selected to be featured in the library’s gallery by former director Hali Taylor.

“Most of the photography was framed from previous shows. I updated and replaced about 10 of them for this show,” Muse said, before glancing around at the full room of local art enthusiasts attending the reception. “I’m not surprised by how many people were here today, but I don’t know how many more people might have been here if this had been held last week.”

Art lovers chat at the Mark Muse exhibit’s opening reception in the Shepherdstown Public Library on Friday night. Tabitha Johnston

He said that most of the landscapes featured in the gallery exhibit were located in Jefferson County, Tucker County, Pocahontas County and Washington County, Md.

“There’s very little of analytical thinking in my work. It’s mostly from the heart. There’s nothing preconceived. When I see stuff that intrigues me in some way, I try to take a photograph of it,” Muse said. “I do photograph some other things, but my own personal work is this kind of work — landscapes, trees, occasionally photographing people or nudes.”

Muse noted that he keeps busy with volunteering his photographic expertise to help promote good causes, such as the Friends of Music’s Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra and the Jefferson County Farmland Protection Program.

“I do that kind of thing as a way to give back,” Muse said.

For some attendees, the photographs selected for display proved to be a bit of a surprise.

“I think he’s a genius, I really do!” said Patty Bachner, of Shepherdstown. “Look there at the photo of that old tree — it speaks of age and makes you think, ‘How old is that tree and how long has it been there and where am I in relation to that tree?'”

Patty and her husband, John Bachner, have been longtime admirers of Muse’s work. They have viewed many of Muse’s art exhibits and purchased some of his pieces over the eight years they have been acquainted with him.

“He’s really gifted,” John said. “I always love seeing his stuff. These are wonderful — they highlight the beauty of what I can see in my own backyard. But the nudes that he’s done are just fantastic. They aren’t porno or anything like that. In them, you can’t really tell for sure if the women in them are really nude — it’s very artistic.”

The gallery’s next exhibit will feature the work of accomplished local watercolor painter Dana Wyatt, who was selected by the library’s art committee.