Gracie Adams ¹

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Newspaper: Lancaster New Era: Births: ADAMS, Mr. And Mrs. Aaron (Dulcea Bicher), 120 Keener Road, Lititz, a daughter, at home, Sunday., 25 Nov 2003, Lancaster, Lancaster, PA. ²

2. Newspaper: Intelligencer Journal, 11 Nov 2011, Lancaster, Lancaster, PA. ³ Through young eyes
Seven-year-old photographer has exhibit at Mulberry Art Studios
Few artists skip on their way to an interview about their first professional exhibit. But Gracie Rose Adams skipped happily, and she didn't feel the least bit self-conscious about it. After all, this talented young photographer from Schaefferstown is only 7 years old. Being 7, the Lebanon County second-grader doesn't have a lot of insight into her craft. But she knows what she likes.
"I just started to take pictures," she says. "I look for something unusual or rare. Or a flower." There are a lot of flowers among a collection of Gracie's photos, which are featured this month at Mulberry Art Studios. Animals, too. April Koppenhaver, gallery owner, calls Gracie a child prodigy.
And Gracie's mom, Dulcea Adams, still seems a little surprised at how this has all turned out. "She just started in July," she says. "She was bored. She wanted to do a craft or create something. I gave her my camera and told her to go outside and take some pictures."
Mrs. Adams was startled by the quality she found when she downloaded the photos to her computer later that day. These days, Gracie looks for photo opportunities wherever she goes. "Sometimes, we just walk and walk, and she takes pictures," Mrs. Adams says.
"She's used to me saying, 'Ooh, that's pretty, look at that.' Inevitably, she starts taking pictures and falls behind." How the photos ended up on display at a Lancaster gallery is something of a coincidence. Koppenhaver says she met Gracie's father, Aaron, while discussing solar panels for her roof. "He mentioned his daughter loves photography," Koppenhaver says. "One day, he asked if we'd take a few moments to look at her stuff. And it blew me away. Oh my God, she has a great eye. For a 7-year-old? Wow."
With the kind of lucky timing that can make or break a young artist's career, Koppen- haver says, the exhibitor she had scheduled for November canceled at the last minute. "It just worked out," she says. The photos - there are more than three dozen on display - include some extreme closeups on their subjects, with artful angles that suggest an older, more experienced artist. "I want people to see the details," Gracie says.
"So they can have something real to look at." Her mom thinks Gracie gets so close because she hopes to catch fairies flitting among the petals before they have a chance to hide. In fact, the exhibit also includes a fully furnished fairy house, and the glue that holds it together is the only non-natural ingredient in its construction. It's one of several Gracie has built in the woods behind her home, complete with tiny furniture she and her dad have built. The photos above and at lower left are among those by Gracie Rose Adams, 7, now on display at Mulberry Art Studios. "I left the rest of them in the woods," Gracie says.
"I like fairies. I believe in them. And sometimes they leave things for me in return." Her mother nods in agreement as Gracie lists the things she's found in her fairy houses, from tiny notes to an ornamental gnome. Her creative focus, however, is photography, and she hopes someday to graduate from her mom's camera to her own. Also, Mrs. Adams says, Gracie has spent the last few months on summer and autumn themes. "She's looking forward to some winter scenes," she says.
Photography by Gracie Rose Adams
Cont. through November
Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Free Mulberry Art Studios
21 N. Mulberry St.,
295-1949 www.mulberryartstudios.com.

3. Newspaper: Lebanon County Career and Technology Center, Dec 2021, Lebanon, Lebanon, PA. ¹ Gracie Adams is the daughter of Aaron Adams, Newmanstown, PA and Dulcea Adams, Myerstown, PA. Gracie is a senior at ELCO High School and is enrolled in the Pastry Arts Program at the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center. Gracie has received the honors of Outstanding Academic Excellence, Superior Attendance and Appearance Awards, and Over Achiever Awards. She is a member of the SkillsUSA student organization at CTC. Gracie won first place in the Gingerbread House competition at the CTC and will be competing in SkillsUSA Districts next month. After graduation, Gracie plans to continue her education through the apprenticeship program at the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center. Her career goal is to become a Pastry Chef.

4. Newspaper: Lebanon County Career and Technology Newsletter, Sep 2022, Lebanon, Lebanon, PA. ⁴ On August 23, 2022, Senator Chris Gebhard presented Gracie Adams with a Senate citation in regocognition of her accomplishment. Gracie won the SkillsUSA National Championship in Commercial Baking. She is a graduate of ELCO and the Lebanon County Career & Technology Center's Pastry Arts program. He wished her good luck on all her future endeavors. (Photo).