Since its inception in 1988, Visual AIDS has been at the forefront of organizations dedicated to seeking out, sponsoring, encouraging, nourishing and archiving works by queer artists, particularly works in response to the AIDS epidemic. Their exhibitions, events, publications, commissioned artist projects, and online Artist Registry help to keep the focus on HIV and AIDS, supporting HIV-positive artists and preserving the legacies of those artists lost to the epidemic. Sales from their online store make their work possible.
Tell Me More: At the Visual AIDS store, you’ll find a wide array of genuinely unique gifts, from the very expensive (art photograph prints for $1,000 to $2,000), to the more moderately priced ($99 Limited Edition David Wojnarowicz T-Shirts by LOEWE [A&U, July 2018]) to the much more affordable ($20 designer tote bags). We’ve chosen to highlight two of Visual AIDS’ new publications in their DUETS: In Conversation books, “DUETS: Nayland Blake and Justin Vivian Bond In Conversation on Jerome Caja.” Jerome Caja (1958–1995) was a visual artist, drag performer and provocateur in San Francisco. The new DUETS book presents artists Nayland Blake and Justin Vivian Bond in conversation reflecting on Caja’s
influential life and legacy, his art, issues around AIDS and queer history, and the importance of preserving the legacies of artists like Caja, lost to AIDS. Alongside this title is “DUETS: Kia LaBeija & Julie Tolentino In Conversation.” The two trailblazers “come together for an intergenerational dialogue that illuminates their histories as artists and their relationships to HIV and AIDS spanning more than twenty years. From different perspectives, they discuss their shared practices as artists, performance makers, dancers, poets, and activists.”
How Much: “DUETS: In Conversation” books are all $10.
How to Order: Log on to http://store.visualaids.org for the complete Visual AIDS catalogue.
Who Benefits: We all do. Your gifts from Visual AIDS will further the fight against AIDS by provoking dialogue, supporting HIV-positive artists, and preserving our artistic legacy.