Walk By Faith: A Visit to William Rankins Jr.'s Home
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." - Apostle Paul
Embracing Faith Over Sight
This quotation from 2 Corinthians 5:7 reminds us that our physical existence pales compared to being with our Lord Jesus Christ. The good news is that we live by faith, not by our bodily experiences. We live through belief rather than what we see. In my culture, there's an idea of a third eye, a concept to see what is not there—the spiritual world. I dare say that the true third eye is faith.
The apostle Paul further elaborates in Hebrews 11:5-6, "By faith, Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death... And without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."
Why am I introducing this blog post this way? By Faith, Not By Sight is the book title of the painter William Rankins Jr. I didn't know much about Mr. Rankins Jr. and his work, but I quickly learned.
The Call to Capture: A Serendipitous Assignment
It all started when I was asked to take a few images for Cincy Nice, an organization currently deeply involved in creating, programming, and planning out-of-this-world experiences for Cincinnati's Blink Festival. One of their many projects is a mural by Javarri Lewis, an official mural artist this year. His work is in collaboration with none other than William Rankins Jr., a long-time mural artist who has painted dozens of murals in Over-the-Rhine, which I learned is called Rankins’ Valley because of the sheer volume of murals Mr. Rankins Jr. has on display. Javarri's mural will be in the heart of OTR at Liberty St and Moore St, right next to the Shell gas station.
My role was simple: create a few reference images so that Javarri can have high-quality source material to create his mural of Mr. Rankins Jr. One of my favorite things about Cincy Nice is the collaboration and art-making in real-time. I had no idea who, where, or what I was going to photograph until the morning of the shoot. I took a 14-24 zoom lens to capture spaces and to force me to get close to my subject, and a trusty 35mm lens because it's the closest thing to how my eye sees. I feel confident I can create great images with a 35mm in any situation. I also took a flash and a microphone just in case I needed to capture video.
Meeting the Legend: A Warm Welcome
When our team arrived at Mr. Rankins Jr.’s house, chimes rang in the air, filling the hallway of his assisted living apartment building. We were greeted by Mr. Rankins Jr., wearing all white overalls and a white t-shirt, resembling a painter's uniform. I was surprised to learn that Mr. Rankins Jr. was blind. His dark shades hid his eyes, and his smile brightened the room. His living room was filled with large drawings, detailed paintings, and family memorabilia. Each corner of his living space showcased breathtaking imagery created by Mr. Rankins Jr.
He introduced us to his team: Deb, his personal assistant, his nurse assistant, whose name I have forgotten, and his beloved dog Donnie. He explained that she was old and nearing the end of her days. He called Donnie, and she slowly limped to his side. He grabbed a napkin and gently cleaned her eyes.
We agreed to walk outside and take a few snapshots. He grabbed his Cincinnati Color hat and told us a story about how they supported him throughout his career. As we walked outside and I started taking photographs, I explained to Mr. Rankins Jr. what I was doing. By my words, he perceived me to be a good photographer, saying, "Sounds like you're a pretty good photographer." That made me happy, as I have spent years studying the art form.
Capturing the Essence: Faith and Creativity Intertwined
As I photographed him, we talked. He told me about his partner who used to make photographic backdrops with him, painting them all by hand. Later, back inside his home, he showed me one in his bedroom—a large, 12-foot-long, 10-foot-wide backdrop of an old town with a cobblestone road winding through it. He said he made the backdrop entirely from his imagination.
We often underestimate imagination, thought, and belief, but they are among the most powerful substances known to humankind. Mr. Rankins Jr. understands this, which is why he can still see the world even in his blindness.
The Heart of the Home: Stories of Faith and Legacy
Mr. Rankins Jr. was getting tired and hungry. We went inside where he let Donnie rest and grabbed a can of root beer from the refrigerator. We continued to talk about the images on the wall like of him and his sister when he was four years old. He told us about growing up in Evanston on the same street I live on now. We talked about Javarri's project and the details. Javarri took the time to listen and collaborate with Mr. Rankins Jr., who expressed that he wanted the words "walk by faith, not by sight" as the main words on the mural.
A Day of Faith and Art
I am thankful to Billy Thomas and Destinee Thomas for inviting me to share this moment and help contribute to what I think will be one of the best murals at the Blink Festival due to its message and historical relevance.
This visit was not just about taking photographs but about capturing the essence of faith and creativity intertwined in Mr. Rankins Jr.’s life. His story and work are testaments to the power of faith, imagination, and artistic expression. As I left his home, I felt a deeper connection to my own faith and a renewed commitment to my art, inspired by a man who walks by faith, not by sight.
