Posts tagged aids

Derek Jarman’s Blue (1993) is the twelfth and final feature film by director Jarman, released four months before his death from AIDS-related complications. Such complications had already rendered him partially blind at the time of the film’s release. The film is narrated by Derek Jarman, Tilda Swinton, Nigel Terry, John Quentin. The film consists of a single shot of saturated blue colour filling the screen, as background to a soundtrack where Jarman’s and some of his favourite actors’ narration describes his life and vision. On its premiere, Channel 4 and BBC Radio 3 collaborated on a simultaneous broadcast so viewers could enjoy a stereo soundtrack. Parts 1-7 Here. Text of Jarman’s soundtrack for the film Blue Here.

David Wojnarowicz Clickable Journals and a Dateline - “Artist David Wojnarowicz’s thirty or so journals are stored in a pair of boxes in New York University’s Fales Library. Folders of loose photographs, tickets, and postcards are also included, as is an oversize wall calendar, sparsely annotated by Wojnarowicz, of the type one might find in the gift shop of the American Museum of Natural History (triceratops rooting in lush surrounds). “Series 1,” as this lot of the David Wojnarowicz Collection is designated, feels like a grouping of keepsakes: These are items in and by means of which Wojnarowicz marked, from 1970 to 1991, time’s passing. In 1992, he died at the age of thirty-seven.”*“Years Ago Before the Nation Went Bankrupt” was commissioned by Triple Canopy as part of its Internet as Material project area, supported in part by the Brown Foundation, Inc., of Houston, the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Thanks to the Fales Library and Lisa Darms, PPOW, and Tom Rauffenbart

David Wojnarowicz Clickable Journals and a Dateline - “Artist David Wojnarowicz’s thirty or so journals are stored in a pair of boxes in New York University’s Fales Library. Folders of loose photographs, tickets, and postcards are also included, as is an oversize wall calendar, sparsely annotated by Wojnarowicz, of the type one might find in the gift shop of the American Museum of Natural History (triceratops rooting in lush surrounds). “Series 1,” as this lot of the David Wojnarowicz Collection is designated, feels like a grouping of keepsakes: These are items in and by means of which Wojnarowicz marked, from 1970 to 1991, time’s passing. In 1992, he died at the age of thirty-seven.”

*“Years Ago Before the Nation Went Bankrupt” was commissioned by Triple Canopy as part of its Internet as Material project area, supported in part by the Brown Foundation, Inc., of Houston, the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Thanks to the Fales Library and Lisa Darms, PPOW, and Tom Rauffenbart

The Man Who Had HIV and Now Does Not

Four years ago, Timothy Brown underwent an innovative procedure. Since then, test after test has found absolutely no trace of the virus in his body. The bigger miracle, though, is how his case has experts again believing they just might find a cure for AIDS.

Fucking Cartoon French Condom P.S.A. - “AIDES Smutley. Smutley, he does not discriminate. Smutley will have unprotected sex with anything on two legs, four hooves or a couple of flippers if the situation arises. But he’s only able to do this because he’s a cat with nine lives. The rest of us need to protect ourselves with condoms. Smutley’s hedonistic and dirty perversions have been paired with a 1920s black-and-white animation style. The juxtaposition between this basic style, the story and the music is both unexpected and engaging – it puts a smile on your face while reminding you to do the right thing.”

Two time Oscar winner and AIDS activist Liz Taylor is dead at 79.

Two time Oscar winner and AIDS activist Liz Taylor is dead at 79.

Adolf Reagan - The Advocate ran this 2004 piece by Larry Kramer on the occassion of Ronald Reagan’s 100th Birthday: “Our murderer is dead. The man who murdered more gay people than anyone in the entire history of the world, is dead. More people than Hitler even. In all the tributes to his passing, as I write this two days after his death, not one that I have seen has mentioned this. The hateful New York Times (“all the news that’s fit to print”) of course said nothing about this. We still are not fit to write about with total honesty in their pages. Not really. Just as we were not fit for Ronald Reagan to talk about us. What kind of president is that?”

Adolf Reagan - The Advocate ran this 2004 piece by Larry Kramer on the occassion of Ronald Reagan’s 100th Birthday: “Our murderer is dead. The man who murdered more gay people than anyone in the entire history of the world, is dead. More people than Hitler even. In all the tributes to his passing, as I write this two days after his death, not one that I have seen has mentioned this. The hateful New York Times (“all the news that’s fit to print”) of course said nothing about this. We still are not fit to write about with total honesty in their pages. Not really. Just as we were not fit for Ronald Reagan to talk about us. What kind of president is that?”

Developing Stories About The David Wojnarowicz Smithsonian Censorship Scandal - Was Smithsonian Chief G. Wayne Clough’s hasty decision to remove a video by openly gay artist David Wojnarowicz from the “Hide/Seek” show at the National Portrait Gallery following protests by Republicans and conservative Christian groups influenced by a previous run in with anti-gay religious groups and Republicans at Georgia Tech?There’s a growing consensus that Clough should resign from his position, The Washington Post notes Clough’s lack of leadership and his continued silence on the topic. Tyler Green points to the growing growing second scandal in the Wojnarowicz censorship ordeal.A Canadian artist, AA Bronson is seeking to have one of his works withdrawn in protest from a National Portrait Gallery show. The work in question is Mr. Bronson’s “Felix, June 5, 1994,” showing the corpse of Mr. Bronson’s partner shortly after he passed away of AIDS. The National Portrait Gallery is refusing. Art Fag City explores What AA Bronson Can Gain From A Smithsonian Shit-In.Hyperallergic explores the Wojnarowicz scandal and the idea that a call for censorship breeds demand and dialogue.

Developing Stories About The David Wojnarowicz Smithsonian Censorship Scandal - Was Smithsonian Chief G. Wayne Clough’s hasty decision to remove a video by openly gay artist David Wojnarowicz from the “Hide/Seek” show at the National Portrait Gallery following protests by Republicans and conservative Christian groups influenced by a previous run in with anti-gay religious groups and Republicans at Georgia Tech?

There’s a growing consensus that Clough should resign from his position, The Washington Post notes Clough’s lack of leadership and his continued silence on the topic. Tyler Green points to the growing growing second scandal in the Wojnarowicz censorship ordeal.

A Canadian artist, AA Bronson is seeking to have one of his works withdrawn in protest from a National Portrait Gallery show. The work in question is Mr. Bronson’s “Felix, June 5, 1994,” showing the corpse of Mr. Bronson’s partner shortly after he passed away of AIDS. The National Portrait Gallery is refusing. Art Fag City explores What AA Bronson Can Gain From A Smithsonian Shit-In.

Hyperallergic explores the Wojnarowicz scandal and the idea that a call for censorship breeds demand and dialogue.

National Portrait Gallery Bows to Censors, Withdraws Wojnarowicz Video on Gay Love

After a few hours of pressure from the Catholic League and conservative House speaker designate John Boehner and incoming House majority leader Eric Cantor, the cowards over at the National Portrait Gallery have agreed to remove a supposedly controversial piece of video by David Wojnarowicz from the “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture,” exhibit. A four-minute excerpt from a 1987 piece titled “A Fire in My Belly,” made in honor of Peter Hujar, an artist-colleague and lover of Wojnarowicz who had died of AIDS complications in 1987. For 11 seconds of the 30 minute video a crucifix appears onscreen with ants crawling on it; conservatives called the piece SHOCKING! You can see 4 minutes of Fire in My Belly by David Wojnarowicz, and Diamanda Galas on YouTube after signing in and verifying your age. Here we go, hello 1989, hello Piss Christ redux!
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Damian Hirst Audi A1 for Sir Elton John’s AIDS foundation and auction. completely drivable with a glossy finish, the car came bundled with a certificate of authenticity, and a painting that the artist created when he painted the car. A bidder paid $524,000, and promptly took it for a spin. (Via Josh Spear)

Damian Hirst Audi A1 for Sir Elton John’s AIDS foundation and auction. completely drivable with a glossy finish, the car came bundled with a certificate of authenticity, and a painting that the artist created when he painted the car. A bidder paid $524,000, and promptly took it for a spin. (Via Josh Spear)

The Italian Word of Mouth Campaign, is a virtual as well as real time photographic exhibit in which everyone can be a spokeperson for HIV Prevention. With the intention of spreading the cause, they put the “cause” on everyone’s tongue, and mouth with the possibility that all voices will be heard in the fight agaisn’t AIDS. *Campagne imaginée par Anton Leroy avec le soutien de ASA Milano, des préservatifs Akuel et des agences Silvia Ranzi et Agency.com.

The Italian Word of Mouth Campaign, is a virtual as well as real time photographic exhibit in which everyone can be a spokeperson for HIV Prevention. With the intention of spreading the cause, they put the “cause” on everyone’s tongue, and mouth with the possibility that all voices will be heard in the fight agaisn’t AIDS.

*Campagne imaginée par Anton Leroy avec le soutien de ASA Milano, des préservatifs Akuel et des agences Silvia Ranzi et Agency.com.