Gone But Not Forgotten
Over twenty-five years ago, the world lost an amazing talent. Although I didn’t know him personally; I always felt a connection to Keith Haring. During my coming of age in NYC in the mid-80s, he was the perpetual downtown fixture. Whether it was his whimsical cartoonish zapping spaceships, barking dogs, or glowing crawling babies – I was sure to run into one of his sketches or murals or the man himself. A charismatic and considerate guy, he’d always send a smile my way, every time our eyes met. Whether I spotted him at the now forgotten galleries of SoHo (yes Dorothy, SoHo was not always the outdoor mall it is today) or behind the velvet ropes of “The World”, or “Area” – little did I know back then, Haring would be leaving us in less than five years, much less realize the profound effect his artwork would have on my life.
Keith used art to express himself in a time when many young gay voices where either suppressed or like mine, downright self-censored. Haring’s work spoke to millions and his street culture concepts of birth, sexuality and death helped opened a door to a much needed dialogue among the youth of the time. His artwork which was very political; and often sexual in theme helped me carve out a path from my tortured inner dialogue regarding my own sexuality, allowing me to channel and vocalize my anxieties – a catalyst for my direct leap into social action.
It was 1986 and I was living in an anti-gay political environment; with a dark cloud of AIDS hovering above and shadowing my every move. Everywhere I turned, every headline I read — people were dying of a mysterious illness. There was a disease in full momentum, eradicating an entire community, one by one. And there wasn’t much to help ease the fears evoked from the daily images witnessed on the battle field. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) had just been discovered as the cause of AIDS; but AIDS was nowhere near acceptance, and was very much viewed through the eyes of homophobia. AIDS had become a tool, and gay men were the targets of hate and discrimination to the tune of a shameful Reagan administration endorsing AIDS as “nature’s revenge on gay men.”
To take control of my life; and calm the overwhelming sensation of helplessness; I took it upon myself to learn as much as I could regarding AIDS as well as “gay rights.” The use of the initial-ism LGBTQ was just in a gestational phase and would eventually come to fruition in the 90’s. Inspired by Haring and his work, I delved deep and embraced his passion for basic human rights, social justice, and breaking the silence. I look back now and realize; that was the beginning of my own journey; a course set on self-discovery; and within time found the self-acceptance and wherewithal to take life on; one experience at a time, one little change at a time.
Keith Haring once said “I don’t think art is propaganda; it should be something that liberates the soul, provokes the imagination and encourages people to go further.”
I wholeheartedly agree. Thank you Keith Haring.
