In the Curator’s
Statement:
All of us living
with HIV have relied from time to time and to some extent
on faith in the unknown, in the allure of mystery, and on
an acceptance that some greater power commands fate and
destiny. It is a private place, deep and shrouded. Within
this space, the nature of both hope and despair exists.
We cannot know what inspired these artists to produce these
particular works, but in their making we feel and see the
great energy... Never really sure whether it is hope or
despair we sense – though the energy is unmistakable.
b i o g r a p h y
Bruce Hackney, 43, has worked in the contemporary
art world for the past 18 years. He recently joined Yvon Lambert
in New York as a Director. Previously, he was a Director at
Nicole Klagsbrun Gallery and McKee Gallery, both New York.
Privately, he represents the Estate of Swiss photographer
Karlheinz Weinberger in the United States and is an independent
curator. Most recently, he co-curated a show with Anna Kustera
entitled “i drank the kool-aid: The Experiment Requires
That You Continue” at her gallery in Chelsea.
Tim Smith, 48, is the Administrative Manager
of Lisa Ruyter’s studio. Prior to that, he was Managing
Director of The Armory Show, one of the world’s leading
contemporary art fairs. HIV+ for more than 25 years, he was
involved in the early days of both GMHC and ACT UP.
Every
month, Visual AIDS invites guest curators,
drawn from both the arts and AIDS communities, to select several
works from the Frank Moore Archive Project.
Founded in 1988 by arts professionals as a response to the
effects of AIDS on the arts community and as a way of organizing
artists, arts institutions, and arts audiences towards direct
action, Visual AIDS has evolved into an arts organization
with a two-pronged mission: 1) Through the Frank Moore Archive
Project, the largest slide library of work by artists living
with HIV and the estates of artists who have died of AIDS,
Visual AIDS historicizes the contributions of visual artists
with HIV while supporting their ability to continue making
art and furthering their professional careers, 2) In collaboration
with museums, galleries, artists, schools, and AIDS service
organizations, Visual AIDS produces exhibitions, publications,
and events utilizing visual art to spread the message “AIDS
IS NOT OVER.”
The Body
is now the most frequently visited HIV/AIDS-related site on
the Web, according to the Medical Library Association and
also the most frequently visited disease-specific site on
the Web, according to Hot 100. The Body contains a rich collection
of information on topics ranging from HIV prevention, state-of-the-art
treatment issues, humor and art. An invaluable resource, The
Body is used by clinicians, patients and the general public.
Part of The Body's mission is to enable artistic expression
to reach the Web, and to join art with other resources needed
to help the public comprehend the enormity and devastation
of the AIDS pandemic and to experience its human and spiritual
dimensions. |
