GALLERY 1 - Ways Of Dying: A Chronicle of the AIDS Epidemic

Egg Tempera on Gesso Panel - 8' x 4'

This painting was conceived to honor my boss, who I worked with when I was a research nurse testing a promising AIDS medication (which failed to be effective.)

Greg was very close to Native American culture so I wanted to include some Native American imagery. But everything I tried seemed cliché, until I came across the custom of some tribes "burying" their dead on a platform placed in a tree. This is called “sky burial” and has existed in cultures throughout the world.

Greg did not have a sky burial, but I took artistic license to create this image. Birds of prey such as falcons, hawks and vultures were found at sky burial sites and served to “wipe clean” the flesh of the deceased. 

I tried sketching scenes with birds of prey hovering near the body but they felt too violent. What came to mind were mourning doves, a bird I’ve always loved in it’s gray humility and mournful coo. I discovered that the coo of the Mourning Dove is the male mating call and has nothing to do with mourning. However artistic license has allowed me to paint mourning doves and led me to title the painting “Birds of Pray (Not Prey.)"

I included the parenthetical “Not Prey” after “Birds of Pray,” because people commented that they thought I had misspelled “pray” and still thought the title was “Birds of Prey.” 

The painting seemed to be asking for a very large format—so I prepared  4 x 8 foot sheet of hardboard. I used house paint rollers and dozens of eggs!

I am seeking a public venue, such as a museum, to exhibit these four paintings in the "Ways of Dying" series. if you have any suggestions please inquire here.

The original egg tempera painting is available for acquisition - click here to inquire.

This image is available as an archival reproduction.

Egg Tempera on Gesso Panel - 36''x 27''

This painting is an homage to my friend Jack Walsh, who I met while working at the Haight Ashbury Free Medical Clinic. Jack was thwarted in his life-long ambition of becoming an MD and had to make peace with the title of PA (Physician Assistant.) But in the early 1990’s he moved to the island nation of Granada where he earned his MD. He was so proud to have achieved his medical degree, and had just started a residency, when he was struck with full blown AIDS. He moved back to his beloved San Francisco where he died 6 months later.

I arrived at the hospital soon after his death. The image is true to the scene I found – his dear friend embracing him and repeating over and over again, “Don’t go my friend, don’t go my friend.” As I was painting the figure, Jack’s body seemed to rise up. I felt it was a mistake and tried to correct it, but I was not able to lay the figure down in the bed. My lack of artistic skill resulted in the decision to embrace the spiritual metaphor of Jack’s spirit rising up from his body. 

I am seeking a public venue, such as a museum, to exhibit these four paintings in the "Ways of Dying" series. if you have any suggestions please inquire here.

The original egg tempera painting is available for acquisition - click here to inquire.

This image is available as an archival reproduction. 

Egg Tempera on Gesso Panel - 40" x 36"

I was a research nurse conducting a trial of an AIDS medication. One day, my patient Tom said to me, "I am dropping out of the study, and I am dropping out of life. I'm having a going away party and would love if you would come." He was having symptoms of AIDS dementia and wanted control over how his life would end.

The party was amazing! People gathered in small groups, some crying - Tom comforting them! And  some laughing. Wine, liquor and other substances flowed. Flowers and candles filled every available space. The food was sumptuous, complete with a cake inscribed, "Bon Voyage Tom."

The plan was that whomever remained at day break would be present at his suicide. I had decided not to stay, but asked a friend of his to call me after. Two days later I received a phone call:

At dawn all the flowers and candles were moved into Tom's bedroom.  He lay back in the arms of his friend as his lover read him a "bedtime story." He then took the fatal dose of pills—he was asleep within half an hour—in two hours he was dead. 

I'm seeking a public venue, such as a museum, to exhibit these four paintings in the "Ways of Dying" series. if you have any suggestions please inquire here. Thank you.

The original egg tempera is in a private collection.

The image is available as an archival reproduction and postcard. 

Egg Tempera on Gesso Panel  - 54" x 48"

This painting is an homage to my friend who died of AIDS at the age of 31. I arrived at the hospital shortly after his passing. His lover Susan had wheeled him into the garden on a beautiful sunny day and the idea for the painting came soon after.

The title, “No More Pollution: No More Somalia” are the exact words Peter spoke upon realizing he would not be cured of AIDS, expressing he would no longer be troubled by the problems of this world. 

Peter Ryan was a high school dropout computer genius. Upon learning that he had AIDS, he went to work in the AIDS Immunobiology Research Lab of Dr. McGrath at UCSF. “Peter’s mechanical and intellectual genius became an invaluable asset to the everyday operation of the lab."* Dr. McGrath was researching a promising substance called “Q” which unfortunately failed as a treatment for AIDS." 

*A quote from Peter's obituary in the “Bay Area Reporter” 6/10/1993 

I am seeking a public venue, such as a museum, to exhibit these four paintings in the "Ways of Dying" series. if you have any suggestions please inquire here.

The original egg tempera painting is available for acquisition - click here to inquire

This image is available as an archival reproduction.