La Frégate

Digital Composite, Self-Portrait.

As a gay boy, I struggled with my sexuality and the need to fit in. I did not come out until I was 21 years old, but was fortunate to have found two incredible role models to help me through the journey. These African-American men had profound and positive influences on my adult life, helping to destroy some of the racist and homophobic thoughts that had been beat into my brain as a child.

The image represents me as a teen boy struggling with the fear of being "found out". The bird cage over my head shows that the fear is largely internal and mostly irrelevant to the outside world. The black frigate bird is swooping in to remove the cage and free me. One wing for Dr. Coleman, the Naval psychiatrist who risked his career to tell me there was nothing wrong with me; and the other for Scott Gaffney, who took over as my spiritual advisor after I was discharged from the Navy.

This is a limited edition (20 total) signed print on archival paper using pigment ink.
Print size is 15" X 10", framed dimensions are approximately 17" X 21"
$250 unframed, $350 framed.

Relationship to marginalized people:

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