African lives out of balance

In a lengthy career, photojournalist Tish Lampert has trained her lens on every subject from royal garden parties at Buckingham Palace to rock stars. But her most heartfelt portrait is of a defeated gorilla in the Congo.

Lampert’s work will be on display today through April 10 at Endangered Planet Gallery, 384 Forest Ave., Suite 13, Laguna Beach.

The exhibit, titled “Life Out of Balance,” highlights the endangered status of the African gorilla and coincides with the United Nations declaration of 2009 as the “Year of the Gorilla.” The U.N. is seeking to raise money for primates threatened with extinction from disease, hunting and deforestation.

Lampert recently worked with the U.N. on a project in Rwanda, Burundi and the Congo, and is currently mounting a campaign to raise world awareness for the Congolese gorilla.

“The reason I began my odyssey in the Congo was because for the past 15 years I and my writing partner, James Coblentz, have been writing a feature film about mineral concessions in the Congo,” Lampert said. “This is a fast-paced action thriller that is being produced by Omar Silah and Aaron Greene. We are in preproduction and will begin filming in the coming year or so in South Africa.

“I have devoted my heart to raising awareness due to the decade-long conflict in the region that has taken 6 million lives in the last several years. The gorillas are at risk due to this conflict. I am so grateful to have this opportunity of this exhibition to premiere this body of work in Laguna at the Endangered Planet Gallery.”

On display will be many photographs and giclee prints on canvas that highlight Lampert’s work in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Aside from the toll of a decade-long war on the native human population, the effect of the conflict on the Lowland Gorilla in Eastern Congo is devastating, she said.

A hallmark of the show is Lampert’s portrait of a “warrior gorilla,” who had just lost a battle with a neighboring silverback. As a result of the defeat, the gorilla lost most of his wives and offspring.

“His ability to protect himself had been compromised because during the war he had lost his hand in a trap set to catch him,” Lampert explained.

“When he first saw me he pounded his remaining fist on the ground and then declared himself with a bellow that reverberated through the jungle. He allowed me to enter his domain, coming in very close. He examined me, looking into my eyes, giving me permission to photograph him. I was spellbound.

“He posed for me revealing a deep sadness, an imprint of the soul of this war-torn nation. But as the moments became organic between us his despair lifted. He was willing to express a glint of humor, and a peek into who he must have been in the days of his youthful majesty.”

Originally from New York, Lampert began as a photojournalist in London where she freelanced for numerous publications, including The Times, the Evening Standard, and Time Out. She covered a variety of topics, from rock ‘n’ roll to the Queen’s garden parties; and was one of the only women to photograph inside the mines at Abergavenny.

Her photographs are in numerous private collections, including The Lake Tahoe Assn., The Luckman Collection, Lord and Lady Worsley, Herbie Hancock, Joan Javits, Pauletta and Denzel Washington, Martin Sheen, Effortless Activism, and the Human Rights Foundation.

During the past two decades while based in Los Angeles, Lampert focused much of her work on political issues as a photojournalist for organizations such as N.O.W., the Africa Project, the Navajo Nation, and the Los Angeles Conservancy. Her photos are featured in the documentary “Voices of African Mothers,” a film on promoting peace in Africa through conflict prevention and resolution. She exhibits in Los Angeles and New York, and has shows scheduled in Vienna and Paris in 2009.

In addition to Lampert’s images, Endangered Planet will feature the Jane Goodall Mural “” signed by Goodall “” courtesy of the Art Miles Mural Project. The renowned conservationist has been made Patron of the Year of the Gorilla by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

An artist reception will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. March 21 in conjunction with Earth Day and the Vernal Equinox; and to celebrate the birthday of Earth Day Founder, John McConnell, who turns 94 on March 22.

Lampert will speak at the reception and performing live will be Scarlet Rivera “” a noted violinist who has performed with Bob Dylan, Indigo Girls, Tracy Chapman, among others. For more information, visit www.EndangeredPlanet.org or call (949) 497-5690.