Bill Owens

The Village Bill Owens

"The Village" showcases the early photographic work of Bill Owens with Essays by Victoria Sheridan and Geir Jordahl. Owens unique photographic vision is best known from his book "Suburbia" published in 1973. This work was rooted in his Peace Corp experience in Jamaica from 1964-66. Mr. Owens received word of his acceptance to the Peace Corps one month after President Kennedy was assassinated. At the time he was teaching High School in San Jose, California. His tour in Jamaica was to represent our country as a schoolteacher in a country village. Before he left he purchased a $10 Leica Camera and taped up the shutter to make it operate. The village people moved him greatly and as he documented his experience he discovered his true passion and calling as a social documentary photographer. Owens has published many books over the decades. He has received a Guggenheim Fellowship (1976) and two NEA grants. "Suburbia" has been hailed globally as one of the most important photography books of the 20th century and has been in print for 40 years, however, Owens calls his Jamaica photographs the work of his heart.