This story is part of the Arts and Culture Reporting Corps, sponsored by the Springfield Regional Arts Council.
Local photographer Randy Bacon will be showing his exhibition, “8 Billion Ones: A Randy Bacon Retrospective” at the Creamery Arts Center in Springfield on July 14. The exhibition, located at 411 N. Sherman Parkway, will take place from 5-7 p.m.
“8 Billion Ones,” originally housed in the Hickory Museum of Art in North Carolina, puts the focus on individuals and their authenticity, as well as their powerful life stories.
Bacon has been a photographer since he was 15 years old, and his exhibitions date back to as early as 2003. He said he loves photography because he never gets tired of it, and he loves watching people connect on a personal level with those depicted in his portraits.
Idea for 8 Billion Ones came in 2013
It was in 2013 when Bacon got the idea to capture as many people and their stories as possible.
“It’s not only a way to connect people with other people, but to show that they’re not alone, that we all deal with, at times, very challenging lives and circumstances, but we can get through it,” Bacon said. “We need to look at people not necessarily for the differences but yet, the similarities. At the end of the day, I think we’re all more alike than different.”
In 2015, Bacon started his nonprofit organization 7 Billion Ones, which features his photography, films and narratives to present people and their stories to others. The name changed to 8 Billion Ones in 2023 to accommodate for population growth around the world. Bacon said he anticipates having to change the name about 15 years from now, when the population reaches 9 billion.
“I chose that name after much thought because the world can look so incredibly big and overwhelming, but yet, I just wanted people to focus on ones, the individuals,” Bacon said. “By showing just the special qualities of the ones, hopefully people will then look at their own lives and say, ‘Hey, I am a one, too. I’m more connected with all of these other ones than I was previously, so the world doesn’t seem so big.’”
Exhibition has been impactful for younger audiences
Kristina Anthony, exhibitions manager at the Hickory Museum of Art, said the exhibition has been especially impactful for younger audiences at the museum.
The museum had the exhibition from May to September 2022. Anthony, who leads tours at the museum, said a middle school in the area came to visit the exhibition and it went over so well that they made it into part of their curriculum.
“Students came in and toured the exhibit, and then they worked on projects at the school during their summer school,” Anthony said. “Their final week, they came back to the museum, where they got to meet Randy Bacon. He answered their questions, and they immediately connected with his artwork and the stories presented. They participated in the activities we had and they opened up and shared their own life experiences. It was just an amazing time and they were so moved because they shared similar stories with the people they met on the wall.”
Inspired by the bravery, vulnerability of subjects
All artists want to reach people through their work, and though Bacon says he sees that a lot with his own work, he would have never envisioned this path for his career.
“They’ve so bravely and vulnerably said, ‘Hey, take this portrait of me just as I am, and also I want to share this very important part of my story, my life, and I want to share it for others to see,’” Bacon said. “I am always so incredibly inspired by that.”
Bacon also wanted to thank the Springfield Regional Arts Council for hosting the exhibition and allowing him to connect with his community.
“Hosting a retrospective of Randy Bacon’s career just makes perfect sense for the Springfield Regional Arts Council,” said Sarah Abele, programming director of the SRAC. “I mean, the SRAC is all about uplifting and educating our community through art, right? And Randy, with his knack for capturing those deep human stories in his photographs, is a game changer for sure. It’s just a great fit. Taking a moment to celebrate his work is a win for Springfield’s vibrant art scene, really.”
Want to go?
What: “8 Billion Ones: A Randy Bacon Retrospective”
When: Friday, July 14, 5-7 p.m.
Where: Creamery Arts Center, 411 N. Sherman Parkway
For more information: Visit the Springfield Regional Arts Council's website, or find them on Facebook.
