The AIDS Epidemic

Gay Life in San Francisco
Written By Allison Wyper

As the AIDS epidemic swept through San Francisco, William was deeply affected by the suffering and deaths of those around him. He trained in the Shanti project, becoming a volunteer to companion and comfort them. His calligraphic piece “Fifteen Friends” displays obituary pages from the gay Bay Area Reporter listing the recent dead, among whom are fifteen personal friends. His closest friend Mica, and his dearest love John Dunlap, were two victims of this plague.

William contributed a square to the AIDS quilt project, and joined friends for the Washington DC march displaying the quilt, to draw attention to the AIDS epidemic’s lack of adequate medical and personal support.

Allison Wyper
I am an interdisciplinary artist with over a decade of experience providing administrative, marketing, and production support for artists and creative professionals nationwide. I founded Rhizomatic Arts to provide affordable professional consulting, training, and services to independent creatives and small companies. Rhizomatic Arts takes a holistic approach to creative sustainability, supporting the cultural eco-system on a grassroots, person-to-person level, empowering artists to take charge of their own careers within a supportive network of peers. Our Sustainability Network connects creatives with skills and resources to share, via a mutually-supportive gift economy. Our motto: "work independently, not alone."
http://rhizomaticarts.com
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