Flaco Guapo Media

SAN ANGELO– "Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. So, autograph your work with excellence.” Helga Van Niekerk

That quote perfectly describes one of the best “pros pro” in the business, the late, Mr. Barney Barnhart, owner of Barney’s Portrait Studio whose portraits, photos, etc. were all a masterful “work of excellence.” After 71 years, the family owned business closed the chapter on its business doors this past December 2018.



It officially became permanent when Mr. Barnhart’s three daughters: Linda Barnhart Rasor, Barbara Rallo and Laura Barnhart Gillis decided to have a sort of “farewell picture party tour” that was hosted by Friends of the Porter Henderson Library where it was held. The two day affair was held on Monday, February 25 from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Then on Tuesday, February 26 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.



Three representatives from respective organizations were there alongside of Barnhart’s daughters for support. Flaco Guapo interviewed one representative, Mr. Chris Matz, Angelo State University Library Director who stated that Barney’s “was a very famous institution.” While Barney’s covered parades, Goodfellow Air Force Base events, it was mostly “very personal, intimate photos.” said Matz.

Left-to-right: Shannon Strum and Mr. Chris Matz. Sturm is in charge of Special Collections and Programs at ASU. Matz is Angelo State University's Library Director.

When Rasor, Rallo and Gillis decided to do this picture party two-day tour, all three agreed that their father’s excellent portraits, photos, were part of the Barnhart family. So, how could they possibly trash or burn other families’ portraits, or photos that described their father’s work, “Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it.”

Another person, Shannon Sturm, in charge of Special Collections and Programs at ASU, collaborated with the Friends of the Porter Henderson Library to bring the farewell picture tour there.
“These photos are memories of times gone by.” “They [Barnhart’s daughters] wanted to preserve those memories for families by making them available for families to take home,” said Sturm.

The third member interviewed was Julia Stout, president of Friends of the Porter Henderson Library. Stout was contacted by Barney’s Studio to host the event “They wanted a place to gather to go through these photographs, hopefully to connect the owners with the photographs” said Stout. Photos chronicled from the 50s to the present, consisted of children’s portraits, weddings, Lake View graduations, etc.” “We welcome anyone to look through the photographs and negatives to see if they can find one of them that was taken at Barney’s”

Lesley Barr, now Mrs. Lesley Johnson, was an 18-month-old baby when her portrait was taken which hung in her parents’ house for years. “We had a house fire several years ago and this particular photo was burned.” When Johnson saw that the original photograph was among the hundreds of others being given away, she and her husband, decided to come and claim it.
Flaco asked Johnson, “how does it make you feel to be reunited with the original one? “It is pretty awesome.” “I just appreciate Barney’s for what they are doing, getting people to come by to get their pictures,” she said.

Brigitte Garza a 2006 Lake View High School graduate, was 18-years-old when her portrait with her six-year-old dog, Chip was done by Barney’s.
Q: “When you took the portrait did you have in mind for Chip to be in the photo? “We decided to include the dog to make it more interesting” said Garza. And, Brigitte’s mom, Marietta, had the great idea to put the bandana on Chip’s neck. “I had to blow in his ear to get him to look at me like that.” And that’s how they got that great pose.” “I’m so grateful that they kept it” concluded Garza. Brigitte stated that her parents have a portrait copy in their house. But now she has her own, the original that she will hang in her house!

Barbara Barnhart Rallo, was the last person interviewed. Rallo fondly looked back at the years when she and her siblings who were in junior high served as sort of apprentices for their Dad. “Before color pictures, we would help Dad in the dark room.” “We would develop black and white photos, the film” said Mrs. Rallo. Rallo pointed out that it was Laura who followed in her dad’s footsteps as a photographer.

Barbara remembers her dad being as patient as he could be to guide her and Linda to make sure the photos were processed correctly.
Q: “How special was it to work alongside a professional such as your Dad?” “It was fun and crazy.” “I probably appreciate it now more in looking back,” she said. Mrs. Rallo emphasized her point when she picked up one of the glam photos of a lady that was taken in the 50s.
“We don’t know these people in the photos, but when we match them up it makes our hearts feel good” concluded Barbara.