| Images of Healing: Photographer Lenkus Builds A | | | | compelling both in their compositional elegance and |
| Bridge Between the Photographic and Healing | | | | their, very human, very natural, ease. This visual |
| Artsview images: | | | | connection with life that made Lenkus' work a |
| Hollywood, CA -- August 10, 2005 -- Unflinching, | | | | perfect bridge between the visual image Doran |
| intensely personal, and powerfully authentic, the | | | | Hawkins needed and the important message she |
| photographic images that define Linnea Lenkus' | | | | wanted to convey. |
| body of work speak directly to the importance of | | | | The billboard, unveiled this month, is located at |
| human connection. This quality made her work the | | | | Sunset and Kings road and is one of two donated |
| perfect choice to represent the mission of | | | | by Brian Kennedy, of Regency Outdoor, in |
| Whispering Winds, a non-profit provider of | | | | support of Whispering Winds. Doran Hawkins feels |
| therapeutic massage for the critically ill. The | | | | that the Lenkus' images will strike just the right |
| 15-foot, black and white, billboard image of a | | | | note with the people she is trying to reach, "We |
| mother kissing her baby and a father's gentle | | | | hope to attract a lot of attention and let people |
| hands cradling the feet of an infant, presents a | | | | know how important healing touch is to the |
| commanding, split-second message of the need | | | | seriously ill. The healing touch of a caring and |
| for healing touch to the thousands of Sunset | | | | nurturing heart is not a luxury... it is a necessity of |
| Boulevard commuters passing by every day. | | | | life and it can be life-saving." |
| Finding the right photographer had been a difficult | | | | Lenkus, already an internationally published |
| task for Whispering Winds founder, Doran | | | | commercial photographer, opened her first studio |
| Hawkins. The work of providing therapeutic | | | | in Pasadena, CA in 1998 in order to apply her skills |
| massage for people living with serious illness is | | | | to fine art portrait photography. Her expressive |
| challenging and communicating the great need for | | | | editorial style, focusing on sensitive, evocative, |
| these services for sick infants and children made | | | | portraits of families and children, has created a |
| choosing the right image vitally important. "I was | | | | dedicated following. Her second studio opened in |
| having trouble getting my message across and it | | | | Long Beach in 2004 and her clients travel from as |
| was frustrating that the photographers I was | | | | far away as Hong Kong to have their family |
| working with did not share my vision..." states | | | | portraits taken by her. Lenkus' series of |
| Hawkins. "They seemed to view massage only | | | | photographs of pregnant women is drawing much |
| from a luxury item perspective. When I saw | | | | attention and will become part of America's |
| Linnea's work I knew right away she was the | | | | broader media image of prenatal care this fall on |
| one. I made up my mind that she was the | | | | the set of NBC's new series "Inconceivable," |
| photographer I wanted to work with ...there was | | | | starring Angie Harmon, . Lenkus and her husband |
| something about the image, something that | | | | live in Long Beach, California with their very well |
| touched my soul." | | | | photographed children. For more information about |
| Lenkus' gift for capturing more than the eye can | | | | Whispering Winds please call their 24-hour, toll free |
| see in her representations of people makes her | | | | number (877) 679-5352. For more information |
| photographs more than simple portraiture. Her | | | | about Linnea Lenkus and her work please go to |
| images deeply engage the viewer, making them | | | | or call (562) 981-8900. |
| momentarily a part of the subject's life. They are | | | | |