When Home Won’t Let You Stay: A Photography Exhibit at Winona Public Library

When Home Won’t Let You Stay is a poignant photography exhibition about refugees in Minnesota by documentary photographer James A. Bowey. It provides a new perspective on the often hidden lives and compelling experiences of refugees in our communities. The exhibit consists of contemporary color portraits accompanied by first-person stories highlighting the plight and resiliency of refugees who call Minnesota home.

The exhibit will run from Monday, January 30th to Friday, February 24th in the Winona Public Library’s Bell Art Room. Bowey will be at the library’s book discussion on Wednesday, February 2nd at 2PM to discuss the book, Little Bee by Chris Cleave, along with a special guest.

He will also be at the library on Monday, February 13th at 6PM for a Community Conversation. The event will be moderated by the photographer and will consider the experiences of refugees, and the responses of local communities to needs of displaced people around the world. Refreshments will be provided during the program. (Note: The Winona Public Library will be open past regular hours on Monday, February 13th for this special event.)

About James Bowey

James A. Bowey is a documentary photographer who has spent his career covering a wide range of global and national stories from the war in Bosnia to Hurricane Katrina. His work is featured in The New York Times, Time Magazine, the Associated Press and more. Bowey is also an educator and was on the faculty at Winona State University from 2008 to 2015 where he won the national WOW award for innovation in higher education.

The City of Winona is a partner of the River Arts Alliance.