Fine Art Photography and Original Art by Lena Johnson Studio

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Fine Art Photography Downtown Boise, ID. Architectural photography copyright Lena Johnson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Beyond the Ashes,"  Boise, ID.

© Lena Johnson Studio of Fine Art Photography.

All Rights Reserved.

Local artist auctions work to help the Idaho Votes No campaign

 

by Shannon Morgan  © Copyright 2006 Arbiter Online  Posted: 10/30/06

 

Piazza di Vino Art Gallery and Wine Bar hosted a silent auction fundraiser Oct. 27 to benefit the Idaho Votes No campaign, which opposes Amendment HJR2, otherwise known as the Marriage Amendment. The evening kicked off with a speech by special guest Michael Mitchell, marriage campaign manager for the American Civil Liberties Union who flew in from New York to assist with the Idaho Votes No campaign.

Mitchell began by thanking Carolyn and Mohammed Essaks, owners of Piazza di Vino, for providing a venue for the fundraiser.  “I’ve done a lot of organizing in my life for gay and lesbian stuff, but also AIDS stuff, and art stuff, for like 20 years and it’s people like Carolyn and Mohammed who really help our movements. They are like the oil to lubricate the engine of our movement because they host in places like this. It’s kind of like the salon of the new age, so it’s really wonderful that they’re here.”  He also had high praises for local artist Lena Johnson who donated 50 percent of the proceeds from the sale of her artwork to the Idaho Votes No campaign.  “It’s really important to have supporters and allies like you, who use their art to help and to tell stories and to allow us to do things like this,” Mitchell said.

 

Johnson’s art comes in the form of contemporary photography. The photos on display in the gallery were from her journeys to southern California, Costa Rica and Boise, where she is a resident.  “Most of my work is characterized by really sharp compositions, strong contrast and lots of color. I tend to manipulate the photographs until they have a surreal and painterly type quality,” Johnson said.

 

I stopped to share a glass of wine with Johnson who reflected on the reasons behind her wanting to have this show and donate so much of the proceeds to IVN.  “When I heard about the proposed amendment I was really shocked that this could be happening in Idaho. I thought that Idaho was a bit more progressive than that and I really had a sense that it was really a social unjustice and I wanted to get involved in some way.  I’m in a domestic partnership with a man right now and it could potentially affect me if it passes, as it would ban domestic partnerships in Idaho.”  The crowd that evening represented a very diverse population of Idaho residents, from students to business owners, single moms to couples with children - straight and gay alike - all converging to support the fundraiser.

The smell of Piazza di Vino’s European Cuisine filled the nose while conversations about the Marriage Amendment kept ears busy. Johnson’s art set a colorful and surreal backdrop to tantalize eyes. There were a great many students from Boise State who came to the fundraiser in support of IVN; Fairy Hitchcock was one of those students. “The artwork is wonderful! I can’t afford to buy any of the art tonight but I still wanted to come out and support the event. I think this issue is very important and I wanted to do what I could to help, even if it’s just to show up to things like this,” Hitchcock said. 

Meridian business owner Karen Ann Meyer summarized the sentiment of everyone I talked to at the fundraiser that evening when she said, ‘Beyond the Ashes’ is my favorite piece because there are Boise Mountains in the background with snow on them, and it has some older buildings in front of them. There are three windows on one of the buildings that are reflecting the sky behind you as you’re looking at the mountains. What I really liked is there is also a little small American Flag on the top of one of the buildings and it’s just kind of picking up in there. I believe in the cause very much, I agree with what Michael was saying in his speech that Democracy and our constitution is what are under attack here and not marriage, it’s just the big excuse.”

It was lovely to see the American system at work. Lena Johnson used her art to raise money for a cause she believes is important and many gathered who agreed with and supported her efforts. 

© Copyright 2006 Arbiter Online

 

Fine art photography by Lena Johnson is for sale in limited edition prints. 

For pricing and information:  Contact Lena

 

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