Through Tipper’s lens

THE evening reception at the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams store on 3rd Street in L.A. was so packed, it was difficult to cut through the crowd, let alone see the exhibition that had brought them all together: a viewing of Tipper Gore’s photography, for sale.

“You know, her husband is here,” one guest whispered.

And indeed, the former vice president was in the upper gallery, posing for pictures and shaking hands. His face was still covered with pancake makeup from an earlier appearance on “Larry King Live,” where he was discussing his movie, “An Inconvenient Truth,” on the dangers of global warming. He tried to deflect the attention: “This is Tipper’s night.”

Nearby, Tipper Gore -- who has spent three decades honing her photography skills -- was surrounded by well-wishers. With the kickoff party last week, copies of 30 photos from her personal collection will be available for sale at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams’ 14 showrooms nationwide.

Her work includes nature shots and images taken during the Clinton-Gore administration, including pictures of Nelson Mandela, Maya Angelou and the historic handshake between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on the White House lawn. There also are scenes and faces taken during her travels around the world.

“I’m thrilled,” Tipper Gore said, adding: “I’ve never sold a photograph before.”

Retail prices for the framed prints, which range in size from 16 by 19 inches to 55 by 40 inches, start at $1,000 and go up to $7,950. Examples may be seen at www.mgandbw.com.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Climate Project, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to raise awareness about global warming.

-- Tina Daunt