Dear Younger Me: New Rachel Owens Exhibit Opens this Weekend in Lemont Downtown

What would you say to your younger self? Would you give them warnings of the future? The right stocks to invest in? Lessons on life and love? Or would you say nothing, letting life unfold slowly as it does? 

Local photographer, Rachel Owen, asked the same question of herself and, like all good artists, decided to make something of it. The ‘Dear Younger Me’ exhibit features 25 women in 25-16 x 20 portraits with letters written by women featured to their younger selves. 

”I spoke to women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, often who go unnoticed and ignored in society, and asked them simple questions as prompts, but really left it open for them to write letters. You learn a lot about these women and the lessons that we all have to learn from each other if only we’re willing to join together in community,” Owens says. 

Rachel and her husband, Jeff, own the popular J.R. Owen and Co. on Canal Street, a boutique photo studio that offers wedding, portrait, and boudoir photography. 

The Dear Younger Me Project will host a gallery opening on Sunday, March 22 from 2-4 PM at The Living Room, located at 102 Stephen Street, in Lemont Downtown. The event is free and open to the public. The exhibit tells a wonderful story of resilience, growth, healing, and the power of reflection. 

Can’t make the opening? The exhibit will be open throughout April at The Living Room, offering the perfect opportunity to grab a cup of coffee, connect with friends and other locals, and maybe even write a letter to your own younger self.