Jerome: After the Pageant

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0965141705 ISBN 13: 9780965141703

Publisher: Bastard Books, 1996

Book by Thomas Avena, Adam Klein

From Library Journal:

When Jerome Caya died of AIDS last year at the age of 37, Avena (Life Sentences, LJ 3/15/94) and Klein (The Medicine Burns, High Risk, 1995) had already undertaken to preserve and disseminate his legacy of complex works, which were just gaining the attention of the art establishment. Avena provides an insightful analysis of their personal meaning and art-historical place, and Klein writes of Caya's life and beliefs, but the heart of the book is in the color plates of nearly four dozen pieces. The paintings are made of nail polish, white-out, china marker, hair, and gouache on scraps of lace, tar paper, and restaurant tip trays. These materials are significant both for their personal ties to the artist who was also a drag performer and for their rejection of aesthetic aloofness. Conversely, the works are in the style of religious icons?most of the pieces are small-format allegories and often include allusions to Catholic saints?raising questions of the banality of martyrdom in the age of AIDS. This surprisingly uplifting record of a talent brought down in his prime is recommended for larger libraries collecting works on contemporary artists and all AIDS collections.?Eric Bryant, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.