Bill Owens’s landmark documentary project and book Suburbia from the 1970s met with immediate success for its keen observation of middle-class America. Owens had recorded a generational phenomenon: the rapid migration of inner-city apartment dwellers to affordable, newly produced homes in Livermore, California. He realized that this wasn’t simply a demographic shift but a psychological one. Social critics had mocked the suburbs for their apparent conformity and spiritual emptiness. But Owens respected the liberation that many suburbanites felt, and their determination to build better lives.
Ritchie, Suburbia, © Bill Owens, 1972
Initially presented in a volume entitled, Suburbia, they have since been exhibited in museums and galleries in Europe and North America and become the classic photographic description of the American suburban dream.
The UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism is proud to re-explore these images in a special exhibit on the occasion of Bill’s 80th birthday.
How to support the next generation
The J-School’s Center for Photography has joined with Jim Marshall’s estate to launch the Jim Marshall Fellowships in Photography. Our goal is to raise $200,000 in funds dedicated to supporting the visual arts at the School. We’re depending on people like you to reach this ambitious goal in tax-deductible donations both large and small. Donate online today at: http://givetocal.berkeley.edu/jimmarshallfellowships.
SPONSORED BY
The Reva and David Logan Gallery of Documentary Photography and FotovisionSPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
Reception & Book Signing
5:30-7:00 p.m.
North Gate Hall Courtyard
Fotovision Lecture
Bill Owens in conversation with Prof. Ken Light
7:00-8:30 p.m.
North Gate Hall Room 105
Free and open to the public.
Seats are first come, first served.
Event Contacts
Julie Hirano – juliehirano@berkeley.edu
Marlena Telvick – marlenatelvick@berkeley.edu
Press Inquiries – journalism@berkeley.edu
About Fotovision
Fotovison (2003-2011), was a San Francisco Bay Area non-profit dedicated to creating, nurturing, and educating a community of social documentary photographers. The founding board of directors and executive director included working documentary photographers and writers. Fotovision served artists and journalists who sought to help one another, connect photographers to resources, organize classes and workshops, and featured world-class talent at public book signings, lectures and events. It created an endowment at Berkeley Journalism following its closure.
Click here for campus map, including nearby parking lots.
Parking
Metered street parking is available in the commercial blocks of Euclid Ave, Hearst Ave and Ridge Rd.
ADA Accessibility
The ADA accessible entrance to North Gate Hall is located in the inner courtyard.
TICKET INFO
This is a FREE event.
Tax-deductible donations from the J-School community help make this possible.
No tickets required