Volland is reopening on February 5th with photography exhibition, in plain sight

Doug Barrett is a syndicated photographer who also launches his own artistic endeavors, most recently embarking on a project to document Black ranchers and farmers in Kansas. What Barrett thought was going to be a small project will in fact be much larger than anticipated. In his research, the artist learned that many Black farmers and ranchers go unlisted for reasons stemming from their race. What remains is a large group that has gone unnoticed by most. in plain sight showcases Barrett's work around Black cowboys and ranchers.

Laura Cobb’s photographs also shed light on a subject, but instead a place. Focusing her efforts on a quarter mile of a tributary to Indian Creek, Cobb emphasizes the beauty of the places closest to home. Nestled in suburban Overland Park, the creek at times feels a world away from the regimented landscape above, but Cobb does not shy away from showing this tributary as it truly is, altered by the litter, oils and chemicals collecting there. 

Dylan Connell, a recent graduate in photography at K-State, will show pieces from his senior project, Smithfield Foods, where pork is processed. Working for the plant starting in mid-2020, Connell noticed changes to his creativity and personality after taking the job. The artist used this as inspiration, befriending coworkers and inviting them into the studio. Donned in their work garb and often fresh off the line, Connell displays the hardship of those working in this critically important, and often overlooked, industry. 

The Volland Store is located at 24098 Volland Rd., Alma.