New York Life: Images After the Fall
A Solo Photography Installation by Gerard Van der Leun
Opens Sunday, February 29, 2004, Artist's Reception, 12-4 p.m.
Show runs through April 2004
Harlow's Fine Art
332 Forest, Suite 7
Laguna Beach, Calif. 92651
949/376-0208
Beginning February 29, 2004, Harlow's Fine Art, a contemporary gallery in Laguna Beach, will feature the work of Gerard Van der Leun in a solo photography installation, New York Life: Images After the Fall. The show runs through April 2004.
Ashley LaJune, owner of Harlow's Fine Art, has her own special connection to New York City. Through another business venture, The Abbey, Ms. LaJune provides private spiritual readings and ancestral services to a devoted clientele.
Following 9/11, she was, like all Americans, physically and emotionally overwhelmed by the devastation and destruction over the World Trade Center. But for LaJune, a noted psychic, there was more than shock, sadness, and anger. As she put it, there were souls trapped in the wreckage of the World Trade Center; the souls of those who had worked at the World Trade Center and the souls of the firefighters, police officers and EMS workers who lost their lives on that fateful day.
LaJune had no choice but to go to New York City to visit the site herself in person. And on December 14, 2001, she was one of the few ‘civilians’ permitted inside Ground Zero. She accomplished this with the aid of Christopher Rush, a retired New York Police Department (NYPD) police officer who has been working in the private sector for the past 20 years. Mr. Rush is a noted international investigative consultant and highly sought after licensed private investigator. Rush specializes in cases involving unattended deaths and apparent suicides. It is through his work on these types of cases that a unique working relationship evolved with LaJune.
“I have used the services of Ms. LaJune on some extremely difficult cases,” said Rush. “With my clients’ permission, Ms. LaJune has used her unique psychic intuition to assist me in several of these investigations. Even before we ever met in person, I would send her personal artifacts of the victims; a piece of clothing, a ring, a key, or some other item that the deceased would have handled on an everyday basis, in addition to a photograph. Ms. LaJune, after handling these various items would provide me with her unique insight that more often than not, provided a different perspective, one that often sent me in a direction that might have otherwise gone unexplored or unexamined.
“The accuracy was amazing. Prior to working with Ms. LaJune, I had never utilized the services of a psychic medium before, but her insights have made a believer out of me.”
As Rush put it, what transpired with her that day at Ground Zero is difficult to describe and almost beyond comprehension for those of us with no experience in (and perhaps a guarded skepticism for) the psychic attributes of someone Like LaJune.
“I remember that day accurately,” said Rush. “It was incredibly stormy, and she was just in her own world, this ethereal space. I could tell watching her that something extremely powerful was taking place. I felt very privileged to have witnessed the event.”
LaJune described it similarly when I sat with her at the gallery in Laguna Beach, surrounded by Van der Leun's photography. “Standing there, in the middle of Ground Zero, I could feel the energy of the spirits channeling through me. It was so intense, I wasn’t even aware of anyone else around me.”
LaJune continues to consult with Rush and others who rely on her unique insights to assist with their investigative efforts.
Orange County Gets a New York State of Mind
When LaJune was introduced to Van der Leun through a mutual acquaintance and learned of his background in New York and the thousands of images he had taken, she knew that his work was meant to be shown at her gallery.
“We all need to remember and honor those who lost their lives at The World Trade Center,” said LaJune. “Not just once a year, but always and forever. Showing Mr. Van der Leun’s photography is just one way we can demonstrate our love and concern for all those lost on 9/11.”
Prior to Van der Leun's exhibit, Harlow’s is hosting a solo exhibition for internationally acclaimed painter James Strombotne. In addition to Strombotne, Harlow's represents artists Patrick Clifford, Maureen K. Scott, Annette Reed, Kelly Vivanco, Mimi Wu, Suzanne DeAinza Oliver, and now, Mr. Van der Leun.
New York Life: Images After the Fall opens on Sunday, February 29, 2004 and runs through April 2004 at Harlow's Fine Art in Laguna Beach.
Harlow's Fine Art
332 Forest Ave., Suite 7
Forest Avenue Mall
Laguna Beach, California
For more information, contact:
Ashley LaJune, Gallery Owner, 949/376-0208
www.11-19.net
Gerard Van der Leun, gvdl@cox.net, www.americandigest.org
www.NewYorkLifeImages.com
