Monday, April 15, 2013
Johnson has received a $20,000 bid on the artwork, a portrait of the former pontiff making use of condoms, from a Milwaukee philanthropist and plans to donate a portion of the proceeds to HIV and AIDS research and advocacy.
Shorewood artist Niki Johnson appeared on a CNN "Faces of Faith" segment discussing her controversial portrait of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI using 17,000 colorful condoms. Johnson talked about the message behind her piece and the positive and negative feedback she has received from around the globe. "I believe our world leaders are responsible to support public health and I'm hoping, through making this piece, to engage further conversation about the importance of preventing HIV/AIDS," she told CNN. Johnson has received a $20,000 bid on the artwork from Milwaukee philanthropist and AIDS activist Joseph Pabst, according to a new website about artwork coined "Eggs Benedict." She told CNN she wil donate a portion of the proceeds from the …
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Shorewood artist Niki Johnson takes years and uses 17,000 condoms to create a portrait of Pope Benedict XVI after hearing former Catholic leader make comments about AIDS.
A concept captured and communicated visually creates a visceral relationship with the viewer in ways the written word can't, Niki Johnson says. Through her portrait of Pope Benedict XVI, which was created with roughly 17,000 condoms, the Shorewood artist hopes to spark dialogue about sexuality and making healthy sex choices. "There's so many ways to look at the types of conversations that can arrive from seeing a piece like this," she said. "Everyone is going to take away something different from it, and I feel like there are many communities that I would like to speak to. I think it's time for people to allowed to love who they love, be safe about it and make good choices with their lives. And, to have our world leaders support them." …
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Oil painting of children taken down at governor's mansion to be displayed at Milwaukee Public Library.
A Shorewood artist's oil painting that triggered public outcry after being taken down at the governor’s mansion has found a new home in Milwaukee. “Wishes in the Wind,” by David Lenz, depicts three children of different races playing together along a snowy sidewalk. In early August, it will be relocated to the Milwaukee Public Library's central library, at 814 W. Wisconsin Ave. “I met with the library director and we picked out a really nice spot on the first floor,” said Lenz. “It’s a very high traffic area and they’re going to fix a light for it. It will be open and accessible to the public during regular library hours.” The painting was removed from its perch above a fireplace mantel and replaced by a painting of the bald eagle Old Abe…
David Tatarowicz
10:24 am on Wednesday, April 17, 2013
@ TDS Did you hear the one about the Priest, the Choir Boy and the Nun ? This might be just the right forum for all those bigot groups that hate Catholics -- the KKK, the Aryan Brother Hood, many hard core Evangelicals --- to use for their anti Catholic jokes, mis-truths, and plain old hatred of a particular religious group. Just not Baptist --- Adam said he was a Baptist, so probably not ok for … more ›