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Photo exhibit portrays poverty in developing nations

April 5, 2010

KALAMAZOO--An exhibit of photographs portraying poverty in developing countries is on display at Western Michigan University, where a reception is set for Monday, April 12.

"A World of Faces and Places," a collection of black and white photographs of people and scenes from Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, South Africa, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand by Sally Putney, is on display in the second floor art gallery of the College of Health and Human Services. The free reception is from 4 to 6 p.m. in the gallery and is open to the public.

Putney graduated from WMU in 1976 with a master's degree in counseling and since has worked as a certified social worker in human services and mental health settings. The exhibit's photographs document her travels to developing countries with a social worker's sensitivity. They portray the apparent simplicity of life in these counties and the poignant beauty of the people with dignity.

"Obviously, their lives are much harder and less comfortable than ours," Putney says. "On the other hand, their sense of community seems to be greater, their resourcefulness impressive, their relationship to the land closer and their pace of life less hectic."

Through her photographs, Putney hopes viewers will discover the interconnectedness of the world's people, whether rich or poor.

The exhibit is offered as a complement to the CHHS Book Read featuring "Mountains Beyond Mountains," Tracy Kidder's story of Dr. Paul Farmer's work in Haiti. The exhibit will be on display through April 30 and can be viewed 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

For more information, contact Gay Walker at (269) 387-3839 or gay.walker@wmich.edu.

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Media contact: Mark Schwerin, (269) 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu

WMU News
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