Dying Diseased Faggot (DDF), CLEAN, Table Tent, and Dirty & Proud live at the intersection of art material and call to action. In these works I bring attention to the ongoing AIDS epidemic, specifically amongst gay and bisexual men and the ways that they navigate (or don’t) safer sex negotiations. I want the works to create a moment of contemplation from the viewer about how the language we use can be coded. I also want to call into question whether what we say we are doing is actually what is occurring when we use loaded/veiled allusions, rather than direct language to address what we are attempting to get at. In alignment with these goals, I would consider these works to be successful in that they create a moment, shock or disgust, but still a moment by which the audience is confronted with my intended message. All of this elevated the pieces from object to actor to catalyst for further discussions.
DDF Papers, 2015
letterpress on handmade paper (cotton, string, floss)
8.75 x 6
CLEAN bored, 2013
ink, mirror and glue on wood
4.75 x 10.5 x 5
Dirty & Proud, 2014
iron on patch
2" diameter
Play Smart trading cards by Ben Cuevas, Rebecca Levi, Charles Long, Nathan Vincent, Maria Piñeres and L.J. Roberts. Image: Visual AIDS
Play Smart features fun, sexy and creative trading cards, packaged with condoms and lube. The back of each Play Smart trading card features honest and straightforward information to promote harm reduction, HIV testing, pre and post exposure prophylaxis as well as raise awareness around HIV/AIDS advocacy. Sew-on patches by Charles Long and L.J. Roberts are a new addition to Play Smart V.
Table Tent, 2016
letterpresses on arches
Table Tent, 2016 (unfolded inside)
letterpresses on arches
Table Tent, 2016 (unfolded outside)
letterpresses on arches