Barnet artist easel-y raises money for Israeli Soldiers

The controversial painting by Whetstone artist, Joanna Gilbert, has been sold to an Art Collector in Elstree. 

'Painting Peace' shows a soldier praying by the Kotel which reminded the art collector of his days in the Israeli Army.

John Laslow, was the highest bidder on ebay, where the painting was being auctioned. Laslow arrived to pick up the painting two hours after the auction ended, armed with a newspaper cutting from the New York Times dated May 17, 2002. The headline read 'This is Israel, Too' and the article showed a photograph of him and his Officer walking along a beach in Tel Aviv with not a care in the world. Gilbert states 'if only Israel could be as care free as this all the time.'

Laslow has since commissioned Joanna Gilbert to 'pop art' this photograph in her Warhol style as he loves her work so much and feels this image reminds him of happier times.

All the money raised has been sent to UK Friends of AWIS to help build recreation centres for IDF Soldiers in Israel.

Gilbert is currently taking orders for Pop Art Portraits or Bespoke Art Commissions for Chanukah.

Email info@joannagilbert.com if you would like Joanna Gilbert to pop art your picture or if you have a bespoke art commission to discuss.

http://www.joannagilbert.com/

Barnet's own Lichtenstein paints for peace

2 December 2009

Barnet artist Joanna Gilbert has put one of her latest paintings on online auction site Ebay to raise money for charity.

The 31-year-old hopes her depiction of an Israeli soldier praying for peace at the Kotel in Jerusalem will raise at least £1,000 for UK Friends of the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers (UK Friends of AWIS).

Gilbert decided to volunteer the picture, Painting Peace, after an Israeli friend, who had been in the army, was moved to tears by the image and suggested donating it to a charity that supported Israeli soldiers.

But it was eventually agreed that selling it to raise money for such a charity would be even more helpful.

“Miri walked into my house halfway through my painting and she burst into tears with emotion,” Gilbert recalls.

“The concept was borne out of a desire to remind people in the UK who can be quick to criticise the heavy-handedness of the Israeli army, that those soldiers are doing all of us a service and praying for peace just like us.”

It is the first time the artist, whose Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein-inspired works adorn the head offices of House of Fraser and M&S among other familiar High Street names, has sold a painting for charity, but there could be more in the pipeline if it generates sufficient interest.

The auction closes at 9pm on 6 December. To bid for 'Painting Peace' visit http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250538014019&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:GB:1123

View Joanna’s work at http://www.joannagilbert.com/