"Joe with David's Jacket"
Oil on canvas
George Towne
What I Like About This: From the artist's master's thesis, this work, part of series, chronicles a time of loss and survival during the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980-90s. The subject lovingly cradles his late partner's jacket while sharing other mementos of his beloved one's life. The story of the subject's lost love is further told by the inclusion of a drawing behind the subject and by his attire. Symbolizing the finality of loss and the eternity of love, he is seated upon a chest in which he likely stores these remembrances of a lover lost to the tragedy of the times.
I remember the hysteria over AIDS at the beginning of the crisis.
ReplyDeleteA lot of gay people suffered horrible discrimination just for being gay.