Artists Space

A Living Testament of the Blood Fairies

November 9, 1996 – January 4, 1997

Selected by Frank Moore, Geoff Hendricks, and Sur Rodney (Sur)

In the Main Gallery Artists Space presents A Living Testament of the Blood Fairies, with works by ten artists from around the US who are living with HIV/AIDS and two PWA artists who have passed away.

A large glass container filled with golden honey sits on a white surface against a dark backdrop. Serif text inscribed across the center of the jar reads, "INITIATION." Several syringes float within the honey. A small glass lid seals the top of the jar.
Elliott Linwood, Initiation, 1993. 200 lbs. of honey, sandblasted glass, syringes. [A large glass container filled with golden honey sits on a white surface against a dark backdrop. Serif text inscribed across the center of the jar reads, "INITIATION." Several syringes float within the honey. A small glass lid seals the top of the jar.]

The paintings, photographs, and installations in the show draw upon fairy tales, cartoons, myths, rituals, and incantations. AIDS is referred to only obliquely or in coded terms. All of the works include text, and at times only the text cues the viewer to the subject of AIDS. The works are intended to broaden the public discourse on AIDS through their tenderness, humour, and poignancy.

The artists in the exhibition represent a small sampling of those who have been served by the Archive Project of Visual AIDS. The Project, started in 1994, provides professional services to artists with HIV/AIDS. All three curators are on the board of Visual AIDS and are members of the Archive Project. The following artists are included in the exhibition: Copy Berg, Robert Blanchon, Brian Buczak, Valerie Caris, Joe De Hoyos, Robert Farber, Rebecca Guberman, Elliott Linwood, David Nelson, Mike Parker, Jorge Veras and Martin Wong.

December 7, 1996

A conversation with the artists of A Living Testament of the Blood Fairies
Conversation
7pm

Black and white image of several sculptures and two-dimensional artworks installed in a gallery space bisected by three white columns. Behind the columns, a large dark tarp covers two gallery walls that form a small corner. To the right of the columns, a large glass container filled with honey rests on a plinth. To the left of the columns, a wide doorway opens up into another gallery room, where several chandelier-like sculptures hang from the ceiling, while three spindly structures are propped on the floor.
A Living Testament of the Blood Fairies. Installation view, Artists Space, 1996. [Black and white image of several sculptures and two-dimensional artworks installed in a gallery space bisected by three white columns. Behind the columns, a large dark tarp covers two gallery walls that form a small corner. To the right of the columns, a large glass container filled with honey rests on a plinth. To the left of the columns, a wide doorway opens up into another gallery room, where several chandelier-like sculptures hang from the ceiling, while three spindly structures are propped on the floor.]

A Living Testament of the Blood Fairies Exhibition Booklet

A Living Testament of the Blood Fairies Press Release

Arning, Bill. "A Living Testament of the Blood Fairies." The Village Voice. December 10, 1996. Print.

Vojtko, Joe. "Blood Fairies vs. The Monster of Chaos." Review. December 1, 1996. Print. 11-14.

    Yellow cursive text superimposed over an array of plush, blue diamonds. The text is slightly hazy and reads,
    Mike Parker, This Town Needs an Enema, 1990. Oil on canvas. [Yellow cursive text superimposed over an array of plush, blue diamonds. The text is slightly hazy and reads, "Let's Broaden Our Minds."]