Tonia Cowan is the director of graphics for the Wall Street Journal and has formerly worked as a visual journalist for Newsweek, The Associated Press and The Boston Globe. Cowan specializes in visual communication, working both as a painter and a visual journalist. Her projects have included Olympics coverage, science reporting, covering one of Canada's most infamous murder trials as a court illustrator and reporting from the North Pole with ball point pen drawings.

Cowan began this series of photos at the beginning of the COVID pandemic when New York City was the epicenter for infections. She explains, “I started taking and sharing photos as a reassurance for friends and family that we were okay. Central Park had a field hospital and trucks were being used as temporary morgues, New Yorkers lined up for food. I didn’t shoot that. I shot what I could see within walking distance, with my phone. I shot within the limits of my own territory. I shot the same buildings day after day. I shot the George Washington Bridge again and again. Instagram followers watched my bananas ripen in real time. 

“This creative exercise kept me sane that first year and gave me a deeper appreciation for my city. As I kept walking and shooting, I fell in love with New York and New Yorkers ... and I will feel that way for the rest of my life.”

An opening reception for #Goodnight New York will take place on Friday, September 2 from 5-7 p.m. with an artist talk in the gallery at 4:30 p.m. 

The exhibition is free and open to the public. Attendees are welcome to tour the entire Catapult facilities.

Catapult Creative House is located at 612 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. All gallery exhibitions, events and talks are free and open to the public. For more information contact Christy Mershon at cmershon@semo.edu or (573) 651-2651 or Dr. Joni Hand at jhand@semo.edu.