John Lennon image sought by foot-fetishists and collectors alike
TORONTO, April 8 /CNW Telbec/ - Houselink Community Homes is hoping that Give Feet A Chance will help give the Toronto-based charity a chance to make a difference to those at the highest risk of homelessness. The print of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, by photographer Gerry Deiter is being auctioned, along with 25 other vintage and contemporary photographs, as part of Double Exposure, Houselink's Auction 2010.
The annual fundraising event, which takes place on April 15, 2010 at Toronto's Palais Royale, will bring together leaders of the philanthropic, business and artistic communities for an elegant evening of photography, wine and music. In addition to the live photography action, attendees will be treated to a silent auction, wine tasting by Wines of Chile and entertainment by jazz performer, Mark Eisenman. Tickets to Double Exposure are still available, giving Beatles fans, peaceniks and foot-fetishists the opportunity to attend and bid on this piece of history.
"We are extremely pleased to include this extraordinary print as part of our auction this year," said Peggy Birnberg, Executive Director, Houselink Community Homes. "We are expecting a lot of interest in this photograph. This is the first time a Deiter print has been donated to a Canadian charity, and what would have been Lennon's 70th birthday is also coming up this year on October 8."
Give Feet A Chance was taken in the "green room" adjacent to the main suite of room No. 1742 of Montreal's Queen Elizabeth Hotel where peace anthem Give Peace a Chance was recorded. John and Yoko didn't sleep in the main suite during their infamous Bed-In peace protest in the spring of 1969. After long days of receiving visitors they would retreat to the "green room" and watch films and television, relax with friends like Beatles press agent Derek Taylor, play with Yoko's daughter Kyoko or, as in this picture, simply blow off steam and have fun.
In this unusually casual photo, the viewer can see the very special relationship Deiter had with John and Yoko. They trusted him to not exploit the opportunity to document what was going on. Deiter was the only photographer there the whole 8 days. On assignment for Life Magazine, this only recently revealed archive captures perfectly an era of innocence and honest efforts to stop war.
"Gerry Deiter's photographs capture that brief moment in human history when two people, unafraid to appear foolish, cleverly and joyfully utilized their fame for peace. It's an eternal example, one that urgently reverberates in the 21st Century. Not incidentally, they also remind us of one of the great love stories of all time." Michael Simmons, reporter Mojo Magazine, Huffington Post, LA Weekly.
Auction Information Thursday April 15th, 2010, doors at 6:30 pm Palais Royale Ballroom, 1601 Lakeshore Blvd West, Toronto
About Houselink's Auction 2010
Co-chaired by Stephen Bulger and Carole Tanenbaum, Houselink's Auction - Double Exposure brings together leaders of the philanthropic, business and artistic communities to celebrate the essence of art. Since inception, the event has raised $1 million for Houselink Community Homes to help provide programs for over 500 people living with mental illness and at the highest risk of homelessness. The event helps to address homelessness by focusing attention on the devastating effects of poverty and mental illness and the importance of supportive housing in Toronto. www.double-exposure.ca
Many thanks to our partners and sponsors - CONTACT Toronto Photography Festival, Stephen Bulger Gallery, Wines of Chile, Zenergy Communications, Black and McDonald, NOW Magazine, Century Services Inc., HSBC, JB Smith Photography, Mad Hatter Events, Flight Centre and CNW Telbec.
For further information: Tina Lakhanpal, (416) 539-0690 ext 229, [email protected]
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