The Wichita County Commissioners Court on Aug. 19 issued a proclamation declaring Aug. 19, 2025, as Wichita County Photography Day, recognizing photographers whose work now appears in public exhibitions inside the county courthouse.

Why it matters: the proclamation is ceremonial but highlights local artists, public art in civic spaces and a courthouse exhibit organized in partnership with local arts groups.

The court read a proclamation noting that photography captures community history and that Wichita County is home to photographers whose work is displayed in gallery spaces in the courthouse and stairwells. County staff and arts organizers named participating photographers and student contributors in the exhibit, including Torin Halsey, Barry Levy, Ashley Madden Jacoby, Randall Barker, Carol Davis, Ben Jacoby, Jeremy Smith, Timothy Nyberg and student photographers Bailey Biggs, Jonathan Davenport and James Matlock (who was not present).

Organizers said the exhibit spans the second-floor hallway and stairwells and was installed with assistance from Swaco. Commissioners and the judge praised the project as a way to tell local stories and invited the public to view the photographs; the County Judge signed the proclamation during the meeting. The court’s remarks emphasized the exhibit is drawn from Wichita County photographers and that an additional exhibit is planned at the annex to highlight transportation themes later this year.