PALESTINE — A reception for Palestine photographer and artist Rebecca Rowntree’s new exhibit “A Thousand Faces” is planned Saturday at the Museum for East Texas Culture in Palestine.

The reception, which will open the two-month exhibit, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Museum’s art gallery.

“The idea for this project came to me about seven years ago as I was praying — in what I can only describe as a whisper from God. The phrase I heard that day was, ‘A Thousand Faces.’ It wasn’t clear to me what the phrase meant or where it would lead me, but being a photographer, I knew that any resulting creative path would involve photography,” Rowntree said.

At the time, the majority of her photography was film based, and the idea of creating and displaying 1,000 photos seemed overwhelming. In the following years, she began to explore the creative potential of digital photography, which freed her from the expense and limitations of traditional film, and made the seemingly impossible, possible.

The journey led her to put together a photographic exhibit featuring 1,000 “faces” — photographs she took of people around town in Palestine by stopping by various businesses in the Main Street District of Palestine and the Palestine Fire Department stations and attending events such as the Dogwood Trails Celebration, Palestine Old Time Music and Dulcimer Festival and the circus. She started taking pictures in January.

“Beginning the project was easy, but it soon became apparent how much work would be required to see it through to completion. A concentrated daily effort was necessary to get the work done, and there were days I wanted to quit due to exhaustion,” Rowntree said.

The photos were taken in many locations including the Dogwood Trails Festival, retirement community, livestock show, fire stations, barber shops, restaurants, schools, quilting group, square dancing events and many places in downtown Palestine.

“Being a somewhat quiet person, approaching people to take their photo felt awkward, but once people learned about the project, a majority of them agreed to participate,” Rowntree said. “By spending a brief moment with each person, and taking their photo, our life stories meshed. I became a small part of their story, and they became a part of mine. From start to finish, it was a struggle, but it was also ‘crazy fun.’”

Each 4x6 inch photograph is sewn onto watercolor paper with the person’s name and a “head quote or word” they liked when Rowntree took their picture. The photographs will be clipped hanging on chains around three rooms in the museum’s art gallery.

“I think it’s going to be fabulous — that many pictures of people around the room,” Rowntree said. “Most of the people in the photographs are from Palestine, but there are some out of town faces, such as the people who were here for the dulcimer festival.”

 Facing a project of a large magnitude such as “A Thousand Places,” Rowntree hit a rough spot after the first half of photographs needed for the exhibit were taken.

“When I hit about 500 photographs I was exhausted. I hit sort of a wall. But somehow, I got a second wind and before I knew it I had 700, 800, then 900 and finally hit 1,000,” Rowntree said. “I had to stay focused and that’s something that’s hard for me because I jump around a lot with the different art that I do. I had to do something for this daily or it wouldn’t get done.”

Rowntree tried to photograph different kinds of people of all ages for the exhibit.

“I got a variety. I got many people working in their stores, shopping, going to the circus. I have one picture of a man getting a shave at a barber shop. I really had fun watching the square dancers,” Rowntree said. “I tried to hit every kind of people and every kind of place that I could.”

Rowntree was born in Luling but has lived all over Texas. She and her husband Doyle moved to Palestine in 1997 after living for three years in Colorado and then for a short time in Houston.

“Since I was a teenager I liked to draw. Then I started doing photography. When Doyle and I married, I took over his camera and that’s how it started,” Rowntree said.

Rowntree took many pictures at the Old Magnolia Mercantile in the Main Street District of Palestine, where she has a booth featuring her artwork, greeting cards, home decor and a “little of this and that.”

“Many people helped and encouraged me while working on ‘A Thousand Faces’ — too many to mention here individually. To those who did — and this includes all those who agreed to be photographed — I extend a heartfelt thank you,” Rowntree said. “I hope you will come see the end result at the reception Saturday.”

For those interested in purchasing their photograph after the exhibit ends around June 30, Rowntree will sell each one for $20. A portion of the proceeds will go to a charity close to Rowntree’s heart.

After the opening reception Saturday, “A Thousand Faces” exhibit will be open to the public during the Museum for East Texas Culture’s business hours. The museum is located at 400 Micheaux Ave. For information about the museum hours, call 903-723-1914.

For more information about purchasing a photograph, call Rowntree at 903-388-6806.