Photographic portraits by Newtown resident Irving Barlia, taken during years of visits to Asia, comprise an exhibition called “The Many Faces of Asia,” on display at Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street, through the end of the month.

The exhibit is annotated with information about the countries Barlia has visited, along with the photographer’s reflections on many of the photographs.

The gallery is open during regular weekday business hours and late on evenings when there are municipal meetings.

Barlia was a counselor in Ridgefield High School for many years.

“James Clavell’s novel Shogun was the inspiration for a trip to Japan 50 years ago,” Barlia has said, which led to his visiting four other Asian countries.

“More appealing than the landscape, the cities, and the culture,” he added, “were the people I encountered.”

His late wife, Barbara, accompanied him on many trips.

“While we were at outdoor cafés, Asian residents would ask her to correct the English they were learning at school,” Barlia recounted. “They were asking the right person. She was an English teacher.”