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