Important Update

Jason Jay Bowen, 39, died Saturday, May 29, 2010, at his home in Pilesgrove, NJ.

He was born February 11, 1971 in Rutland, VT to Charles Bowen of Whitehall NY and Jo Ellen McMahon of Hydeville, VT.

He attended local schools and also the Performing Arts High School of Philadelphia, PA. He attended the Salem County Career and Technical High School enrolled in Cosmetology in New Jersey. He was gifted artist, actor, dancer, writer and Poet.

He is survived by his parents and 3 brothers, Marc Bowen of Rochester, VT, Brian Bowen of Thetford Center, VT, and Jared McMahon of Fair Haven, VT, three Sisters, Lisa Gruel of Auburn, NY, Patty Chindamo of Rochester NY and Kym Porter of Austin TX, his companion, Darris Martin of Pilesgrove, NJ, and his step-father David McMahon of Hydeville, VT.

He grew up with many animals/pets and he loved them, but was especially interested in the mountain gorillas. Per his request, memorial contributions can be made in his name to “The Gorilla Foundation”, 2550 Ninth Street, Suite 1081, Berkeley, CA 94710-9985 or the Rutland County Humane Society, Stevens Road, Pittsford, VT.

Jason loved to share his poetry and writings, so this is his last one to share and he is reflecting thoughts he had from his childhood:

“When I was but a child I entered a golden forest, with green shadows and pine across the valley, in search of my reflection in a clear stream. Walking on smooth stones in the shallow river, I crossed over through the hillside and meadows and back home again. I stood at the garden gate and said everything is going to be alright”.

He would have been happy to share this with you today.

A memorial celebration will be held in Woodstown, NJ, Sunday, June 6, 2010, at the Woodbury Friends Meetinghouse, between 1:15 PM and 2:15 PM. Come and share your experiences of knowing Jason. A memorial celebration will also be held in Burlington, VT. Jason’s ashes will be interned near Rochester, VT, at Woodlawn Cemetery at 2:00 PM Tuesday, June 8 and near Albuquerque, NM in the coming weeks.

Previous Profile

I was born in Vermont in February I am an Aquarius. At age 17 I was accepted to Performing Arts High School in Philadelphia, I was a dancer. The group Boys to Men were also there at the time, before they became famous. My birthstone is Amethyst which means "Not Drunken" the ancient Greeks wore the stone to ward off the god of drunkenness. I have always loved animals especially gorillas, I could sit at a zoo and watch them all day. I am always reading one book or another. I am taking a writing class at the moment. I write poetry and I am working on my memoir. It is not easy to write about my own life. I would much rather paint it. I paint, draw and make jewelry I have also done pottery. My art and Jewelry is for sale. I seek truth in life. I am fascinated by the absurdity of life's predicaments.I am inspired by art, nature, interesting creative people and beautiful truths that can break the heart. My friends tend to be life long people I have known for decades. They all are scattered around the country. I tend to see life as a prolonged period of trials and tests. With only moments of true bliss along the way. But those moments are what make this journey worth it. I am still on the journey and I am a survivor of everything. Youth makes you bold time makes you cautious. Pure joy and bliss go as quickly as someone taking a photograph."I hope the exit is Joyful and I hope never to return"-Frida Kahlo

Please ask my permission to do anything with my photos of my artwork , besides look at them, if you ask I may be willing to work with you (which I have done) as long as I am given credit where credit is due, thank you. Other than that please enjoy the photos. "The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men/women who can dream of things that never were."-John Keats

"Freedom is a state of mind: a spritual unchoking of the wells of human power and superhuman love."-W. E. B. Du Bois.

I wanted to leave with something warm, some hope, maybe an angel would lift us in time towards the end. "I love the things I never had along with the things I have no more."-Gabriela Mistral, "Things" 1922

"Where do all the former dancers go who can no longer kick high and fall in love with piano players? I guess they turn into painters and writers who write about better memories when youthful excitement held the promise of a great love."

Peace and Love still..2010

JasonB