Patrick Willow
he/they
Upstate NY, USA
Patrick Willow is a queer nonbinary interdisciplinary sculptural artist from Dallas, TX and currently residing in Upstate NY.
“Willow explores auto-biographical and auto-fictional storytelling utilizing the iconography and palimpsest found in everyday objects in series of works to tell personal and imagined memories. Willow considers the passage of time against the mundane nature of violence, grief, and loss that we may experience in the daily rituals of our life.”
How does your work relate to the theme connection?
“Series exploring the daily ritual of care taken by both HIV- and HIV+ queer partners through the act of swallowing a pill to ensure safety in the ultimate act of connection -intimacy.
In Daily Dose (Undetectable = Untransmittable), a HIV+ partner takes their daily dose of antiretroviral (ART) Biktarvy medication to remain undetectable (HIV is undetectable in laboratory tests) for their partners. Undetectable = Untransmittable.
In 30 Day Rx (PrEP), a HIV- partner takes their daily dose of Truvada to prevent acquiring HIV from their partners. PrEP is a Pre-Exposure Prophylactic antiretroviral medication taken by HIV- individuals.
During the HIV/AIDS epidemic, countless queer men have been lost without these life-saving and life-sustaining medications.
I remember the fear when a previous sexual partners texted me. Were they about to tell me they tested positive? Friends held my hand (I would hold their hands) as we waited 20 minutes for results. Then, we’d wait together for weeks for more precise results - scared we had only had a false negative rapid result.
I remember that fear, but most importantly, I remember the care, the support, and the love we had for each other as we survived through those harrowing minutes, days, and weeks.
When PrEP first came to market, it was supposed to be a silver bullet to solve the HIV epidemic. But it was slow and remains slow to being prescribed and taken to prevent HIV due to pervasive stigmas around HIV, sex-positivity, and safer sex practices.
Stigma still affects people living with HIV (PLWHIV) despite campaigns to educate the public and specifically queer people that Undetectable = Untransmittable.
This project is an act of care and love for friends that I have lost to HIV, PLWHIV, and my queer community as we strive for connection and a sex positive future."
"30 Day Rx (PrEP / Truvada)", Heirloom sterling silver, diamond, 23k gold gilt, black and white opals, leather, brass foil, 3.5" x 1.5" x 22", 2024"Daily Dose (Undetectable = Untransmittable)", Heirloom sterling silver, .5". x .24" x .25", 2023
NYCJW24 @ UrbanGlass, Francely Flores
What role does connection play in your creative process?
“I am connected to my queer ancestors, brothers, and sisters that have been persecuted for their love and that have been lost to HIV/AIDS. This project utilized heirloom silverware from my grandparents that was passed down to me. I shall pass down these pieces as heirlooms to my queer ancestors (chosen or familial)."
"My queerness is a part of me that cannot be separated. It affords me the experience to understand others and seek connection, support and care toward others."
What connection(s) does your queerness make to the world around you?
NYCJW24 @ UrbanGlass, Simon Leung
NYCJW24 @ UrbanGlass, Francely Flores
Anything else you would like to share about this work?
This can be an important part of the process, sourcing materials, or research.
“This work is part of an ongoing independent research project that I continue to explore in the archives of Visual AIDS, the Felix Gonzalez Torres Foundation and the NYC Public Library archives."
[queerphoria]v4 @ ECU Symposium
