Q News was invited, by artist Brian Crede, to the opening reception, on October 26, of the joint GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis) and Leslie/Lohman Gay Art Foundation show “Art & AIDS: Loving Life,” billed as “An Exhibition of the Humanity, Spirit and Love of Artists Living with HIV & AIDS,” on display at Leslie/Lohman, in Soho, just through October 30. The exhilarating show, curated by Osvaldo Perdomo and David Livingston, consists of 150 pieces of work by nearly four dozen artists, including a mural, “Day to Night,” by 11 of the artists and up for silent auction. “Art & AIDS” includes artwork priced from $100 to $5,000. Breathtaking depictions of the male figure seemed to predominate.
Brian Crede showed off his nude drawings and has added pillows, with erotic male torsos, to his repertoire. Greg Mitchell and Kenn Graziano posed for me before Greg’s photo of muscular Kenn, bare-chested, appearing as if he’s standing on his head. TRETierney posed between Charles Hopkins’ photograph “TRET Embracing the Light” and TRET’s own drawing of “GMHC Men.” Michael Harwood showed photos, taken in his kitchen, of a handsome male nude alongside his photo of the statue, from antiquity, that inspired the model’s pose.
Celebrity fashion designer and leatherman Geary Marcello ,with his nasal piercing, and photographer Robert Ordonez, with his Mohawk, cutting figures that are works of art in and of themselves, showed off the former’s silvery gown “custom-made & designed for loan to Mariah Carey for the 2009 Grammy Awards, February 2009,” and a pair of the latter’s photos. Frank A. Cappucci celebrated “the end of the zeros,” the first decade of the millennium, with a series of round pieces. Eric Rhein displayed male nude photos, incorporating pieces of silvery jewelry, in the form of feathers, flora, and butterfly wings. Preston Cros showed me his photo of a veiled, presumably female face, entitled “Luminous,” which was used to promote the exhibition.
photo by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
Kenn Graziano & Greg Mitchell with Greg's photo of Kenn
Artists participating in the show, beside those already mentioned, are John Alberto, T. Barker, —a drawing of an elegantly dressed male opera singer, nude from the waist down, Loreen Bryant, Niccolo Cataldi, Cleciolira.com, Jon Copley, Ben Delgado, eljay, Orlando Ferrand, Marcus Garcia, Milton Garcia Ninja, Juan Go, James, Bob Johnson, Michael Kornegay, David Marks, Max, Kevin H. Maxwell, Robert Miles Parker, Joseph Modica, Jorge Moncayo, Brad Oliphant, PMS, Fred A. Quintiliani, Robert Quiñones Medina, Peter J. Robinson, Jr., Tim Shaw, Luis Mario Tavales, George Towne, Elton Tucker, and Shangaboy.
Seen at the opening were Steve Golembiewski and Joe Hepworth, Messrs. Fire Island Leather 2004 Jeff Goodman and 2008 Isaac, artist Dennis McConkey, Rollerena out of drag, model and dancer Jase Woodruff, and Penny Candy, Audra Foxx and other members of the Imperial Court of New York.
Leslie/Lohman is located at 26 Wooster Street, off Grand Street.
