Published in
the Weekly Volcano, Oct. 29, 2015
 |
“Untitled Memory (projection of Axel H.), 1998,”
Ektacolo photograph by Shimon Attie, Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman
Gallery, New York.
|
I must return
to Tacoma Art Museum at least one more time to slowly peruse the Art AIDS
America exhibition, which is likely the most affecting exhibition ever mounted
at TAM and the most thorough exhibition on the AIDS epidemic ever mounted
anywhere in America. There is simply too much to take in on a single visit.
Plus there are many planned discussions, workshops and other events in
conjunction with the show, including an artist talk and performance by
notorious performance artist Karen Finley and a rare opportunity to talk with
members of the artist collective Gran Fury.
One of the
first things to strike my eye upon entering the first gallery was a little
photo by Peter Hujar of his bedroom, “Ruined Bed, Newark.” Hujar was closely
associated with Andy Warhol and famous for his book Portraits in Life and Death, featuring portraits of Susan Sontag,
Candy Darling, Devine, and his lover, David Wojnarowicz. This photo is
gripping, dark, moody, and beautifully composed. Hujar and Wojnarowicz both
died of AIDS-related related illnesses.
Similar to
Hujar’s photo but even more disquieting is Shimon Attie’s photo of a bed with
the ghostly projected image of Axel H., a friend of the artist who also died of
AIDS.
David Lebe’s
photograph, “Morning Ritual 29,” is a self-portrait of the artist injecting his morning
medicine. It is gut-wrenching.
Easily overlooked but powerful is Charles LeDray’s untitled teddy bear
in a casket. LeDray, who was born in Seattle, made many of these little boxes
with padded interiors and teddy bears representing people who died of AIDS. It
is much more moving than can possibly be conveyed in words.
Izhar Patkin’s
“Unveiling of a Modern Chastity, 1981” is a large yellow panel with huge,
gaping eruptions like Kaposi sarcoma lesions. It is breathtaking.
These are but
four of 125 works by both famous and unknown artists.
Special events
in conjunction with the exhibition include:
●
The AIDS Memorial Quilt with Julie Rhoad,
Project Director of the NAMES Project Foundation, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2 p.m. Rhoad
will share the quilt’s history and evolution from personal memorial to the
world’s largest example of folk art. $10, $5 members/students.
●
Drop-In Art Workshop: activism and Printmaking,
Thursday, Nov. 19 at 5:30 p.m. This printmaking workshop with University of
Puget Sound art professor Janet Marcavage focuses on making creative, bold graphic statements. $15, $10 members/students.
●
Faith and Positivity: An Interfaith Panel about
HIV/AIDS, Thursday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. This discussion with Tacoma-area faith leaders is free.
●
Art Salon: A Psychoanalytic Perspective on Art
AIDS America, Sunday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m.
●
World AIDS Day program with Pierce County AIDS
Foundation, Tuesday, Dec. 1.
●
Artist Talk with Karen Finley, Saturday, Dec. 5
at 2 p.m. $10, $5 members/students.
●
Closing Celebration featuring “condom couture” fashion
show, Sunday, Jan. 10, noon to 4 p.m. with discussion by Gran Fury at 3 p.m.
$10, $5 members/students.
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