The Divide:
a solo exhibition of new photographs
by Greg M Stowell

August 16 to September 12, 2009
Opening Reception: Sun, Aug 16, 4-6pm
Viewing hours: Saturdays,1-4pm or by appointment

The Divide is a series of new photographs inspired by an excursion to South America made by Queens-based photographer Greg M. Stowell. In 2007, Stowell explored Southern Peru, discovering the city of Cuzco as the natural “landing” place where much of his time was spent seeing, engaging, and getting acclimated to the country – especially the altitude – spending two weeks in what was known during the Incan times as El Ombligo – The Navel. During that history, all roads led into and out of, the city of Cuzco — this navel of commerce and politics hosted the most cosmopolitan industrial, scientific, artistic, and spiritual culture in the Americas.  During his photographic journey, Stowell made use of the concept of days past and found that Cuzco remains “the navel” of adventure to South America. The black and white photographs included in this series are about paths taken —images that seem to take on meaning as a portrayal of current lives in historical context. The exhibition will also include recent photos taken within New York City, the current metropolis in which he resides, that further compliment and contrast his themes of dark & light, past & present.

Greg M. Stowell, a Jackson Heights resident, was born in the small city of Olathe, Kansas in 1958. Initially introduced to the camera in a junior high school photography class, Stowell has since been dedicated to taking pictures. Working only with film (not digital) never cropping, manipulating, nor reproducing his photographs, Stowell’s images are one-of-a-kind once they are printed. With a background in mechanical engineering, he creates black and white prints, capturing the structure of the space along with a timeless narrative of the scenes he chooses to frame. Since moving to New York, his photography has been exhibited at the Queens Museum of Art, Art-o-Mat, Organization of Independent Artists, TOPAZ ARTS Gallery, and at numerous coffee shops, cafes, schools, banks, and diners in the tri-state area.