Showing posts with label IDF Soldier. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IDF Soldier. Show all posts

Wednesday, 7 April 2010

Art Star Joanna Gilbert and Halo Records are in tune for new Album release this Summer

Art and music are inextricably linked. Both are expressions of more than the surface and both are about evoking feeling from the viewer or the listener. London contemporary artist Joanna Gilbert, is using this link to her advantage with a new project from Halo Records. She has been invited to provide the art design for a CD single and the video for, ‘Hellmand’, the debut single from new album ‘Paradox’.

Paradox is co-written by producer and writer Mike Karl and Tally Spencer, former lead singer of JYNXT, who are the offspring of Fleetwood Mac’s Jeremy Spencer. Mike has returned to song writing after many years and is looking forward to working with emerging talents. Previously Mike has worked with the likes of Dr Hook, Spooky Tooth, Camel and Don Everly. Halo Management with its production arm (Aries) was created to represent and progress bands to higher levels through effective producing, promoting, gigging, obtaining recording contracts and marketing and giving small independents a place to distribute and promote their work.

Mike was very impressed with Joanna’s recent work, ‘Painting Peace’ and felt that her art style would be well suited the messages conveyed by the tracks on ‘Paradox’. Mike has watched Joanna’s talent grow from strength to strength as she becomes a noticeable voice in the art world and is very excited by the possibilities of working with an up and coming art star, to promote the messages of a new album. He believes in the ‘true spirit of music’ and Joanna’s art expresses that spirit.

‘Paradox’ will be released in Summer 2010, and will coincide with Joanna Gilbert’s NOW! Exhibition; a perfect mixture of art and music collaboration and creativity. Joanna is looking forward to exhibiting a varied and emotive collection where there will be subject matter to suit everyone. She has recently reworked her abstract ideas, and fallen in love again with the use of colour and texture, as well as developing her pop art masterpiece range. Her style lends itself to creating art which has widespread commercial and personal appeal and she is not afraid to experiment with controversial subject matter.

The album concept is very much in line with Joanna’s visual messaging and how what happens in the present shapes our futures.“My images are linked to what I feel strongly about. I have young children. I’m conscious of what affects us now, so this is where the inspiration is coming from for my paintings”.

Watching her at work, you can feel the creative energy she puts into every piece. Joanna’s recent success with ‘Painting Peace’ has led to her becoming a talent to look out for. Her style is unique and strong. Her ideas lead to striking but evocative images, yet the subject matter cannot help but make you think. This work has led her to connect very strongly with Israel and her roots as a Jewish artist.

Having the time to find the right images to get the NOW! Collection started has proven to be a challenge for Joanna. Ideally she would go to Israel and observe through artists eyes, photographing images of people and places for use as the basis of her collection. She has had to find other ways, since the demands of family life do not allow such freedom.

“I am a working mother, like many others. I have so many ideas to paint and also love asking my followers for inspiration, but I juggle children and family life with getting the ideas onto canvas”, she says.

A recent meeting with photographer, Maurice Selwyn, of Mydas Photography has meant she now has someone who can become her eyes while she creates the art. Maurice is one of London’s most experienced wedding, event and barmitzvah image creators. His talent is in producing images which are there forever; capturing a moment. As well as his renowned event photography, Maurice has many images he has captured of faces and places which translate perfectly into the kind of material Joanna is looking for.

The synergy between Joanna and Maurice has lead to collaboration in image production between expert photographer and emerging artistic talent. Joanna was captivated by Maurice’s images of father and sons, celebrations and people caught unaware of the camera and off guard. Maurice’s evocative images are to become the food for thought for Joanna’s developing collection and there will be bright future for the two, to include joint projects.

Ideas and creative energy, as well as commercial appeal are abundant for Joanna and she is looking to grow her collection for the future, but very much focus on now.

For your own work of art by Joanna Gilbert, email your enquiries to info@joannagilbert.com

Tuesday, 8 December 2009

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.








Wednesday, 2 December 2009

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/