As a young adult I was at a self help convention, when the speaker asked a prying question about who I was. I stood up, a 20 year old and stated unequivocally & unapologetically, “I AM.” My artwork is an autobiographical, I AM”, on every level.
One of the Chicago Art Galleries I was at 20-25 years ago told me, “some people won’t buy your art, if they know you’re gay.” Being an adult at this point who had already dealt with rejection, including family & friends, muchleess strangers. With social media now, they like you and what you stand for until they find out I’m gay, then its unfriended or snoozed, by some. My awswer was that’s on them. I put together an exhibit of decorative contemporary abstracts, each had one letter in them and when arranged a certain way spelled out, “A Queer Boys Story.” Had a solo exhibit there, was interviewed by “ The Reader” who compared me to Jasper John’s at the time. 4 sold at the exhibit, others were donated in the years that followed. I don’t need to shove my life in yours 24/7/365 but I won’t hide & I do live outloud.
Recently, many FB friends, have posted the question, given the current climate, “ What’s wrong with people? What’s wrong with the World?” In my head it’s always the same old answer, repeating itself over and over again and so now I’ll share that. Several other religious Fb friends & family state this over and over again and I’ll paraphrase. You can be the best person on the planet, it doesn’t matter how good, how caring, how giving, how much service & community you provide and give in the world, if you don’t believe as I do, having submitted to the dogma that I have and agreed to those terms your bad, an evil person, not a good one? You’re going to hell, even if I have to create that hell for you. Do we all see the problem here? Obversly then, you can be a bad person, the worst one on the planet and as long as you’ve complied to the terms, no matter what evil you put out there, you’re forgiven and therefore we except the outcome. WTF boys & girls, wake the actual fuck up. The most basic point of all religions is to show empathy & love in the service of community. If your dogmatic rules omit people because of their particular differences, you’re the problem and always have been.
Now on to the painting. What a blast from the past. Back in the day, mid 80-90s, when Don & I were exploring the lgbtq+ community in the area, we ended up on the rocks several times. Pre internet you'd pick up the Windy City Times, Gay Chicago or Pink Page's, rag at the clubs to find out what our resources were and where to connect. Horizons was also an lgbtq+ organization, that grew into Center on Halsted, with the financial backing of the community, as well as our personal financial contributions over 5 or so years. The book, A Place For Us, Gay Life at Chocago’s Belmont Rocks" by Owen Keehnen, is a series of interviews on what the Belmont Rocks meant to us (lgbtq+) and a history as well. One of the interview-ies is by someone we knew back then. The good, the bad, the ugly. It and my memories, have inspired this painting and brought me back in so many ways. HIV/Aids took its tole and so many were taken before their time. It’s been turned into a memorial garden now, with a Keith Haring sculpture. I want get over there and see it, as well as the Obama Center & the Anne Frank exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry.
An FB friend recently asked, "Serious question, to his FB friends. If you are outraged by what's going on politically and socially, what kinds of activities, social organizations, and other activist activities do you participate in? (Beyond posting stuff on Facebook) Drop links and suggestions?" KM.
My response was, "My local Unitarian Universalist Society, Indivisible, Mobilize, the HRC Human Right Campaign, are my primaries. We’ve participated in 5 rallies or protests thus far. Also some of my artworks speak to the issues and have been in current exhibits art shows. My husband and I marched in this years PRIDE parade as pride is a form of protest these days. We’re also looking at the ACLU, Trevor Project and the Matthew Shepard Foundation"
We are all responsible for what we put out there and the world we create.
Your questions & comments are welcome,
Richard
‘Once Uopn A Time’ 36”x36” oil on cradled wood panel