When Farmers State Bank in Albert Lea expanded last summer, the bank was left with a blank wall.

Employees didn’t like walking by a wall with nothing to look at, said President Nancy Skophammer.

Commercial lender Daniel Otten suggested she turn the wall into a gallery. Skophammer contacted the Albert Lea Art Center and she was in turn put in touch with the Lens & Shutter Photography Club.

The bank and photography club hosted their first joint opening reception Thursday night. Farmers State Bank arranged for a wine tasting and the photography club hung 19 of its award-winning photos from its January competition, which had a fence theme.

“It’s fun to see our lobby filled with people looking at the photographs and mingling,” Skophammer said.

John Eisterhold, a past president of the photography club, said photos are judged on a point system. Club members enter photos that fit the club’s monthly theme. This month’s theme is doors, March’s theme is silhouettes and April’s is nature’s designs. First-, second- and third-place awards, as well as honorable mention and merit award winners, are recognized.

Eisterhold estimated there were between 60 and 90 photos entered in the fences contest. There are about 40 members in the club.

“We’re growing not only in membership, but also growing as artists,” Eisterhold said. “When you can’t put your finger on why you like a certain picture, you know it’s art.”

Eisterhold said the club was started by photographers June Wells and Ken Wangen.

“They wanted people to see how much fun photography can be. That’s why I joined,” he said.

Also on exhibit for the month is part of the barbed wire collection of Phil Morreim of Albert Lea.

Morreim began collecting barbed wire about 10 years ago. He found an old segment of fence wire with still-sharp barbs on his present home site.

Then, during a winter trip to Bullhead City, Ariz., he learned of a buy-and-trade session for barbed wire collectors. Today, he has more than 1,000 pieces of barbed wire. The pieces range from very common to very rare. Morreim displays them in cases made by his brother.

Morreim is a member of the New Mexico Barbed Wire Collectors Association.

David Courey, chief financial officer at the bank, provided guitar music during the reception.

Skophammer said she was pleased with the turnout for the first show opening and plans to hold a reception with each new show on the second Thursday of the month.