The Magic Lens: A Photographic Journey by Chuck Stewart at Severance Music Center

Toussaint Miller, curator
Kim Stewart, artist representative

Hosted in Severance Music Center’s The Bogomolny-Kozerefski Grand Foyer, this exhibition invites visitors to explore the world of Mozart's masterpiece in a new evocative light — through Chuck Stewart's camera lens. The Magic Lens: A Photographic Journey by Chuck Stewart is a visual symphony, harmonizing three themes: the power of rhythm, presence and passion, and providing a fresh perspective on the enduring appeal of The Magic Flute. Viewers will be able to immerse themselves in the rich literal and metaphorical pictorial journeys of Stewart, navigating life's labyrinth with his magical flute — his camera.

Chuck Stewart (1927–2017) was one of the most prolific photographers of the 20th century. With more than 800,000 images in his archive, Stewart has left an indelible mark on documentary photography and photojournalism traditions. Born in Henrietta, Texas, he discovered his passion for photography at an early age when his mother gifted him a 616 Box-Brownie camera for his 13th birthday. His career was subsequently born and spanned the last seven decades.

Stewart’s works have graced the covers of more than 2,000 album covers including Nina Simone’s Little Girl Blue, Gil Scott Heron’s The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, and Wayne Shorter’s Wayning Moments have garnered recognition from esteemed institutions including the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Harvard University, and the British Museum.