Email message from Bill Jones "Don: In 1991, you donated a photograph, "Elise-Oliver" (1988, 14x20, nude couple), to the Focus on AIDS III auction benefiting AIDS Project LA, and I bought the piece at that time. I am now donating it back to APLA for their upcoming Art Project LA auction."

An auction of classic works of art, such as a special piece by the late Keith Haring, was held June 25 – 27, 2010 at Bonhams & Butterfields in Hollywood, to benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles. Other works by other world-class artists are also up for auction, including Basquiat, Hockney, Longo, Picasso, Ruscha, and Warhol, plus emerging artists – and a never-before-seen, limited edition Richard Mille watch valued at $90,000.

Just got back from New York. I went to Lincoln Center for the International Lucie Photography Awards for which I won two awards. For the Culture category was a shot of four Monks walking through Angor Wak Temple, Cambodia, at 5 am in the morning. In the portrait series a selection of artists I photographed using double exposures.

Please join me in attending the openning reception for Show & Tell "the art of language" on Thursday April 30, 6-9 p.m. at the Bell Family Gallery in the Jewish Federation Building 6505 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles. RSVP required 323 761-8141 or zoe@zimmermuseum.org. For info on the artists participating in the show check out the web site: zimmershowandtell.org. I have donated a special 30" x 30" framed print of my poster image of Marilyn Monroe titled "Lost Hollywood.

I had a good time in New York but froze my butt off. It stayed in the high 20's and low 30's the whole week. That didn't stop me from running around the city. I was able to do 4 photo shoots while I was in New York.
First I photographed Ellsworth Kelly in his studio in up state New York. I stayed at his and my friend Jack Shear's house. We had a great time talking about art and watching old movies. I took the Hudson train back into the city. I then took a portrait of Carl Fischer who was having a show of his iconic images from the 60's. His most famous image is from the cover of Esquire Magazine of Muhammad Ali with arrows in him. Then on to Editta Sherman the 97 year old photographer who I heard on NPR talking about being evicted from her Carniege Hall studio. I emailed her and she agreed to see me. While photographing her I got a call from Norman Jean Roy who was waiting for me at his show in Chelsea. Got the shot of Editta and rushed to the subway to see Norman. Norman shoots the top stars for Vanity Fair so it was fun to get him on the other side of the camera.
After returning to L.A. I browsed through the digital photos I took in the streets through out the week( with my new Canon G10 camera). Strangely they were devoid of people. Hard to get in a city so full of people. Next trip I will only take pictures of people!

I recently donated a 30" X 30" special print from my series of torn posters to raise money for the Zimmer Musuem. The image "Lost Hollywood" depects a worn torn Marilyn Monroe poster I found in the streets of Hollywood. It sold for $4000.00. I'm always glad to help a worthy cause.

Check out the L.A. Nude article in the current September/October issue of Picture Magazine.

Check out the show I curated at A&I Gallery in Hollywood. 41 photographers all exhibiting the nude image.The reception was June 7th and about 1200 people attended. If your in the Los Angeles area please come see the show and pick up a book The L.A. Nude show is up until the end of July. For more info go to aandi.com.

On Friday April 25th I photographed artist Ed Moses
at the Frank Lloyd Gallery in Bergamont Station, Santa Monica.
We had a very creative time doing long and double exposures.
The results will be posted soon.