Faces & Places of the Heart, a Photographic Exhibit

The photographic exhibit “Places & Faces of the Heart, Platte County and its People”   occurs from August 11 — October 11, 2018, at the Ben Ferrel Museum at 220 Ferrel Street, Platte City, MO, 64079.   HOURS:  WEEKLY — every Thursday and Friday from 1-4 p.m.  SATURDAY:  Sept. 22 from 10 am — 1 pm;  THURSDAY EVE 5 – 7:30 pm during Platte City’s Sample the City festival on Main St.  SPECIAL EVENT & SHOWING:  On FRIDAY, SEPT 7 at 7 pm,  Hankins will give a presentation and showing of the photographs. The event is free but RSVP is requested (to ensure adequate seating), to the museum curator, Lisa Wittmeyer at 816-304-1627.

EXHIBIT INFORMATION:  The exhibit includes nearly 100 black and white images, forty in print form and the others displayed digitally.  They range in subject from rural scenes to people engaged in activities and with others so as to showcase the ‘heart’ of the county and more universal themes.  Hankins explains, “Everybody has a story and my joy is in finding ways to tell these stories in words and photographs.”    Hankins’ vision also reflects his insights on the past as it informs the present: “The early settlers to the county planted crops in the fertile soul here, but they also planted traditions, that like a vine still bear fruit today in a new generation of people who call Platte County home. I have enjoyed finding these folks and telling their stories and photographing their lives.”  Many of the  photographs on display are paired with captions that help to tell their stories, often of people engaged in their work or with farm life, family, sports or other community activities.

Bill Hankins taught photojournalism for 26 years, advised student publications for 29 years, and instructed more than 1,600 photojournalists, mostly at Oak Park High School.  He has received numerous awards from the Missouri Press Association and has been inducted in the Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Fame.  For over a decade he has freelanced photos and feature stories for the Platte County Landmark.   Hankins compiled these and accompanying photographs into the books Landmark People, Stories from Platte County. Copies will be available at the museum for purchase during the exhibit.  Hankins will give a special presentation about his photography on  Friday, Sept. 7 at 7 pm. This event is free to the public and will include a book signing by Hankins.      For more information,  to schedule a group tour, or to RSVP for the presentation on Sept 7, contact Wittmeyer at 816-304-1627