You are invited to to see Lena's latest work, entitled "Jesus at Market" at the Museum of the Living Artist in San Diego, CA from October 10 to November 15, 2009.
See location of Museum on Google Maps
Lena says: "This photograph is one of many that I have taken at the Chicano Park Festival that takes place every year under the Coronado Bridge. In this work, I wanted to express the irony of our contemporary society by capturing this market scene of a statue of Jesus alongside colorful wrestling masks. Here we see Jesus, as a global symbol of peace and love side by side with a symbol of violence. Professional wrestlers, donning these spandex masks and sporting outrageous names have been Mexico's unifying entertainment since the 1930s. The wrestling mask is considered sacred, so much so that the intentional removal of a mask is grounds for disqualification. Most masked wrestlers wear their masks for any and all public appearances to keep their personal life separate from their professional life."
Fine Art Photography from Lena Johnson Studio Art Gallery is available as Chromogenic Photographs in Limited Editions, Giclée Fine Art Prints in Open Editions
See Lena's work online at the Museum of the Living Artist website
See Lena's artwork exhibited in juried competitions
October 8, 2009
August 27, 2009
You Are Invited to the Opening Reception Friday, Sept. 4th at Museum of Living Artist, San Diego, CA
You are invited to the opening reception on Friday, Sept. 4th from 6pm – 8pm at the Museum of the Living Artist in San Diego, CA to see Lena's latest work, entitled "Still Life with Bubble Wrap."
See location of Museum on Google Maps
Lena states, “In this work of art, I have combined the age-old traditional concept of the still life with modern digital imaging techniques. With the advent of the computer age, the boundaries of the traditional still life have been exploded and redefined. I staged and photographed mundane, contemporary inanimate objects: a rolled up sheet of common bubble wrap and birch plywood panels. I manipulated the photograph with digital imaging techniques plus a digital painting overlay in order to produce an abstraction of commonplace reality while maintaining the still life concept. This piece is a representation of our modern day world: the conglomeration of old and new with a sense of reality that is constantly changing due to the introduction and assimilation of new technologies and materials into our culture.”
See Lena's artwork at the Museum of the Living Artist until October 4th, 2009
See more of Lena's info at http://www.lenajohnsonstudio.com/
See location of Museum on Google Maps
Lena states, “In this work of art, I have combined the age-old traditional concept of the still life with modern digital imaging techniques. With the advent of the computer age, the boundaries of the traditional still life have been exploded and redefined. I staged and photographed mundane, contemporary inanimate objects: a rolled up sheet of common bubble wrap and birch plywood panels. I manipulated the photograph with digital imaging techniques plus a digital painting overlay in order to produce an abstraction of commonplace reality while maintaining the still life concept. This piece is a representation of our modern day world: the conglomeration of old and new with a sense of reality that is constantly changing due to the introduction and assimilation of new technologies and materials into our culture.”
See Lena's artwork at the Museum of the Living Artist until October 4th, 2009
See more of Lena's info at http://www.lenajohnsonstudio.com/
Lena's Digitally Altered Photo Shown in "Art of Transitions" Show At San Diego Art Department
08.15.2009 Limited Edition Digitally Altered Photo by Lena Johnson entitled "Demolition 5" accepted into "Art of Transitions" show at the San Diego Art Department in North Park Art District of San Diego. (Juror: Kevin Freitas)
Lena's statement about the piece: “The Demolition Series is an attempt to locate order and beauty in activities of destruction that are deemed by society to be unclean, unsafe and/or ugly. Decades of planning, design and construction and the original dreams that created a structure are blown up or bulldozed in a few hours. There is a small window of time to photograph and the scene changes hourly as the debris is carried off to the landfill.
In this series, I wanted to celebrate the spirit of the building. To show it's intimate parts and pieces that were the manifestation of a former vision and unknown to the observer when viewed simply as a 'building.' When I look at a building that is being demolished, I see the skeleton and blood being spilled out by the violence of a bomb or heavy machinery. I see the physical manifestation of a former vision disintegrating. It seems so senseless that we treat our buildings like this is America. In other countries, buildings stand for centuries and are respected. In America, we seem to have no respect for buildings after they have served their 40 year depreciation cycle. Thus, this series pays homage to the former building that stood and served society for so many years.
See more of Lena's info at http://www.lenajohnsonstudio.com/
Lena's statement about the piece: “The Demolition Series is an attempt to locate order and beauty in activities of destruction that are deemed by society to be unclean, unsafe and/or ugly. Decades of planning, design and construction and the original dreams that created a structure are blown up or bulldozed in a few hours. There is a small window of time to photograph and the scene changes hourly as the debris is carried off to the landfill.
In this series, I wanted to celebrate the spirit of the building. To show it's intimate parts and pieces that were the manifestation of a former vision and unknown to the observer when viewed simply as a 'building.' When I look at a building that is being demolished, I see the skeleton and blood being spilled out by the violence of a bomb or heavy machinery. I see the physical manifestation of a former vision disintegrating. It seems so senseless that we treat our buildings like this is America. In other countries, buildings stand for centuries and are respected. In America, we seem to have no respect for buildings after they have served their 40 year depreciation cycle. Thus, this series pays homage to the former building that stood and served society for so many years.
See more of Lena's info at http://www.lenajohnsonstudio.com/
Mixed Media Original Artwork by Lena Johnson at Museum of Living Artist
07.20.2009 Original artwork (mixed media) by Lena Johnson entitled "Bursting Cloud" accepted into "One Foot Show" at Museum of the Living Artist, San Diego Art Institute (Juror: John Marciari, Curator of San Diego Museum of Art)
Lena says: "This work is the start of a new series in which I fuse state of the art computer and digital technology with old school art and craft techniques. Our world is a conglomeration of old and new, and our sense of reality is constantly changing with the introduction and assimilation of new technologies into our culture as we hold onto the old, comfortable ways. This new series of artwork expresses this cohabitation and conjoining of old and new."
"I begin with a digital photograph of a mundane object and then modify it with numerous digital imaging techniques in order to produce an abstraction of reality. I then print the resulting abstract digital artwork onto archival fine art papers and then add the 'old school' techniques of pen and ink, oil, watercolor and acrylic washes and sometimes simple embroidery stitches to create one of a kind originals."
See more of Lena's info at http://www.lenajohnsonstudio.com/
Lena says: "This work is the start of a new series in which I fuse state of the art computer and digital technology with old school art and craft techniques. Our world is a conglomeration of old and new, and our sense of reality is constantly changing with the introduction and assimilation of new technologies into our culture as we hold onto the old, comfortable ways. This new series of artwork expresses this cohabitation and conjoining of old and new."
"I begin with a digital photograph of a mundane object and then modify it with numerous digital imaging techniques in order to produce an abstraction of reality. I then print the resulting abstract digital artwork onto archival fine art papers and then add the 'old school' techniques of pen and ink, oil, watercolor and acrylic washes and sometimes simple embroidery stitches to create one of a kind originals."
See more of Lena's info at http://www.lenajohnsonstudio.com/
March 14, 2009
Lena's Photomontage exhibited in International Show
YOU ARE INVITED to a reception on March 20, 2009 from 6pm to 9pm at the Museum of the Living Artist in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA. Lena's work will be on display in the 50th International Exhibition of the San Diego Art Institute until May 15, 2009. Please stop by and have a look!
Lena says: "This particular work (called "Idaho Farm Memories") is an assemblage of approximately 20 photographs from four different locations shot on Hwy 75 between Shoshone and Sun Valley, Idaho. This area is rich in vernacular architecture related to the farming industry that once thrived in this region. All of these structures have been abandoned, and are now in an advanced state of deterioration. I predict that within 3 - 7 years most will have collapsed and will be forever gone as landmarks of this region. In this particular photomontage I transferred more than 80 fragments from my photographic archive of this region to create this work. The barns, silos, fence segments, animals and farm implements were each individually transferred and inserted into the final composition using a digital imaging software program."
This work is the start of a new series of photomontages by Lena that mirrors the workings of the subconscious mind in the dream state. The subconscious mind stores a life time of memories and then pulls fragments from this memory bank to create imaginative and vivid dreams while we sleep. Mirroring this process, Lena transfers fragments from her extensive archive of digital photographs and creates entirely new realities, or dreams, that contain memories of the places she has photographed.
See Lena's photos online at the Museum of the Living Artist, San Diego Art Institute website
Lena says: "This particular work (called "Idaho Farm Memories") is an assemblage of approximately 20 photographs from four different locations shot on Hwy 75 between Shoshone and Sun Valley, Idaho. This area is rich in vernacular architecture related to the farming industry that once thrived in this region. All of these structures have been abandoned, and are now in an advanced state of deterioration. I predict that within 3 - 7 years most will have collapsed and will be forever gone as landmarks of this region. In this particular photomontage I transferred more than 80 fragments from my photographic archive of this region to create this work. The barns, silos, fence segments, animals and farm implements were each individually transferred and inserted into the final composition using a digital imaging software program."
This work is the start of a new series of photomontages by Lena that mirrors the workings of the subconscious mind in the dream state. The subconscious mind stores a life time of memories and then pulls fragments from this memory bank to create imaginative and vivid dreams while we sleep. Mirroring this process, Lena transfers fragments from her extensive archive of digital photographs and creates entirely new realities, or dreams, that contain memories of the places she has photographed.
See Lena's photos online at the Museum of the Living Artist, San Diego Art Institute website
September 11, 2008
Lena's Limited Edition Photograph entitled "Aztec Dancer" accepted into "Outstanding Visual Artists" of Region Show at Museum of Living Artist
YOU ARE INVITED to the Museum of the Living Artist, San Diego Art Institute at Balboa Park, San Diego, CA to view this photo on exhibit until October 5th, 2008.
ARTIST STATEMENT: "This was one of the most moving performances I have ever witnessed. As drums beat in the background and the smell of burning sage filled the air, the Aztec dancers swirled around the gazebo in Chicano Park. The sound of the caracol (conch shell trumpet) pierced the air as the Hueceros de Fraile (friar bones) ankle bands made of Ayoyote tree seed pods rattled with each step. In this dance, the Chicanos honor their Aztec ancestors through ritual dances and ceremonies, passing an important sense of history and identity to successive generations. The entire community participates in these dances, from the toddlers to the elders, each one in elaborate costumes of brilliantly colored beadwork, brightly colored feathers, glistening sequins and hand appliqués."
Lena has hundreds of fine art photographs and digital artwork for sale in limited edition prints and giclée fine art prints. She is available for free lance photography travel and location assignments. For purchasing information contact Lena
Fine Art Photography from Lena Johnson Studio Art Gallery is available as Chromogenic Photographs in Limited Editions, Giclée Fine Art Prints in Open Editions and Black and White Photography
ARTIST STATEMENT: "This was one of the most moving performances I have ever witnessed. As drums beat in the background and the smell of burning sage filled the air, the Aztec dancers swirled around the gazebo in Chicano Park. The sound of the caracol (conch shell trumpet) pierced the air as the Hueceros de Fraile (friar bones) ankle bands made of Ayoyote tree seed pods rattled with each step. In this dance, the Chicanos honor their Aztec ancestors through ritual dances and ceremonies, passing an important sense of history and identity to successive generations. The entire community participates in these dances, from the toddlers to the elders, each one in elaborate costumes of brilliantly colored beadwork, brightly colored feathers, glistening sequins and hand appliqués."
Lena has hundreds of fine art photographs and digital artwork for sale in limited edition prints and giclée fine art prints. She is available for free lance photography travel and location assignments. For purchasing information contact Lena
Fine Art Photography from Lena Johnson Studio Art Gallery is available as Chromogenic Photographs in Limited Editions, Giclée Fine Art Prints in Open Editions and Black and White Photography
June 2, 2008
Lena Johnson's Fine Art Photo Accepted Museum of Living Artist, San Diego
You're invited to see Lena's new work documenting Chicano culture at the Museum of the Living Artist at Balboa Park - Reception June 13, 2008 from 6pm to 8pm!
Lena's new photo entitled "Red Velvet," will be on display.
Here's Lena's statement about the piece: "The Lowrider is alive and well in San Diego as shown here at the Chicano Park Festival where hundreds of these intricately detailed cars were on display. This tradition is a uniquely Chicano invention that merges art, religion, fashion, recreation and family values. The name Lowrider was coined when large families of Mexicans riding in the car caused it to sink low to the ground. Oftentimes, the Lowrider is a family project where brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles and children share responsibility for design elements such as air brush detailing, hydraulics, engine restoration, upholstery and accessories. The Lowrider is a cultural statement about a way of life that values family, relaxation, artistic expression and the pride of being uniquely Chicano without ever selling out who you are..."
Lena has hundreds of fine art photographs and digital artwork for sale in limited edition prints and giclée fine art prints. She is available for free lance photography travel and location assignments. For purchasing information contact Lena
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