Project Title	"angelus"
Image Title	"Angelus Domini nuntievit Mariae"
Medium	Iris giclee print on Arches Cold Press
Size example	"Angelus Domini nuntievit Mariae" 33" x 44" unframed
Artist	Lisa A. Johnston
Style	Digital Montage Photography
Thesis	My photographic imagery merges an appreciation for the photographic arts with a new alliance to advanced digital imagery and computer technology. Using these tools in synchronicity allows me great freedoms in communication and creative expression, and the photographic montages contained within this series could not have readily been completed without this unification. In essence, I do not wish to abandon the "darkroom" but extend it into the "light".
Particular Image Synopsis (Contact me for other image synopses)	This image is part of a series currently in progress and centers on the messages and messengers of God as told through Christian biblical stories. The imagery is concerned with explaining these stories through contemporary photographic technique which is supplied heavily with the vigorous usage of religious and literary symbolism and iconography. This particular image "The Annunciation" or "Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae " -- "The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary" is a visual story of the Annunciation. Contained within this image are many symbolic gestures and icons including: (from top to bottom): . Child figure - Plays a triune role. He is at once the angel proclaiming the message, the virgin Mary who receives the message, and the child Jesus, who IS the message forthwith to come. . Doves nest - The image of the doves nest is symbolic of the home of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit in this case, is to make its home in the womb of the Virgin. The image is duplicitous and also serves as an image of foreshadowing a crown of thorns which symbolizes the ultimate sorrowful mystery and passion of Jesus. . Covering of the eyes - Mary is hesitant to look upon the face of the angelic messenger, Gabriel, and bows her head in obedience and compliance of the will of God. The eye symbol is important in the understanding of what we can see physically verses what we can see internally. The traditional symbol of the eye is as it represents the all-knowing and ever-present God. . Bird's wings - a symbol of the angel or "winged messenger of God". Also, the wings/dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. It is taken from the story of Jesus' baptism, where the Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove. . Beads of water - center of the image and covering the mouth of the messenger are beads of water vapor which are to symbolize the breath of life through the Holy Spirit and the words of God as spoken through the messenger Gabriel.. Also, water is used throughout the Bible as a purifyer and baptizer. The child Jesus to come is also known as the Living Water [John 4:10] . Seed Pods - The left and right hand corners of the image are two milk seed pods montaged into the shape of a bird and cross. The imagery of seed have multiple meanings which include: . The seed of the Holy Spirit . Seed in the line of Abraham . Seed as a symbol of Faith . Milk seed as mothers milk . White seed assymbol of purity . Shape of the pods as a dove (the Holy Spirit) and Cross (a foreshadowing of Christ's earthly passion) . . Trinity - Finally, the image is shaped in the triangular (Holy Trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
Exhibit Details	This exhibit is available for showing, and consists of 10 to 14 images. The image sizes are large and require approximately 60 to 85 feet of wall space to hang. Please contact me for futher details.