Saslow, James M. Pictures and passions: a history of homosexuality in the visual arts. New York: Viking. Oct. 1999. 327+ p.ill., index, ISBN 0-670-85953-2 ($39.95)
Surprisingly, given the attention to the role of lesbians and gays in literature, film, and performing arts, there has heretofore not been a historical survey of homosexual expression in the visual arts. Jim Saslow, Professor of Art History at Queens College and CUNY, has rectified this, thoughtfully and artfully constructing a broad canvas spanning from ancient Greek bronze plaques to end of the millennium websites (queer-arts.org). Teasing out representative examples of homoerotic imagery and biographical examples of same-sex relations, and weaving them into a beautifully-written tapestry, Saslow subtly evokes evolving attitudes about art, sexuality and culture. Focusing on western culture, he demonstrates remarkable sensitivity to issues of gender, race, and class, and offers an entire chapter on Asia and Islam. If anything is missing, it is Saslow’s own important role in the documentation of queer art history from his seminal books (e.g. Ganymede in the Renaissance: homosexuality in art and society. Yale University Press, 1986.), his seminal essays (e.g. "Closets in the museum: homophobia and art history" in Lavender culture), many articles in the Advocate and elsewhere, to his leadership in CAA’s Gay & Lesbian Caucus, including his editorship of the Bibliography of gay and lesbian art (Gay and Lesbian Caucus, College Art Association. College Art Association, c1994). 150 judiciously chosen illustrations including 32 full color plates representing a wide variety of media, suggestions for further reading, and an index make this affordable one-volume survey highly recommended for the general reader and scholar alike. Bravo Jim!
Aletti, Vince, “Naked eye,” Village voice, June 15, 1999, p. 159. Review of John O’Reilly exhibition at Julie Saul Gallery
Aletti, Vince, “Physique pictorial: the rise, fall, and revival of Lon of New York,” Village voice, Mar. 2, 1999, p. 55-56. Review of Lon of New York exhibition at Wessel + O’Connor gallery
Bidgood, James. James Bidgood. Text by Bruce Benderson. Köln: Taschen, 1999. 175 p. ISBN 3-8228-7427-2 ($45.00) Text in English, German, and French; illustrations in extremely full color
Boucher, Bruce, “Sinners and saints,” New York times book review, Aug. 8, 1999, p. 5. Review of Caravaggio by Helen Langdon and Caravaggio’s secrets by Leo Bersani and Ulysse Dutoit
Carmichael, James V., Jr. “Homosexuality and United States libraries: land of the free but not home to the gay,” paper for the 64th General Conference of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, Aug. 1998, http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla64/002-138e.htm
Castano, Ivan, “Man of the century: the Estate Project preserves the legacy of 20th cnetury art curator Henry Geldzahler,” New York blade news, May 14, 1999, p. 23
Cotter, Holland, “Men without women: Paul Cadmus as curator,” New York times, July 2, 1999, p. E36. Review of the exhibition at the National Academy
Cotter, Holland, “Through women’s eyes, finally,” New York times magazine, May 16, 1999, p. 92-96. Part of a special issue with title “Women: the shadow story of the millennium”
Curley, Marty, “Francis Bacon: he’d eat Trent Reznor for lunch,” Lavender magazine (Minneapolis, Minn.), issue 103 (May 7, 1999), p. 24. Review of Francis Bacon retrospective at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Daly, Ann, “Turning a photographer’s vision into choreography,” New York times, June 27, 1999, p. 28-29. On Arnie Zane
Delaney, J. G. P. Glyn Philpot: his life and art. Aldershot: Ashgate, 1999. 179 p. ISBN 1859283551 ($42.95)
Dellafiora, James, “Visual AIDS: Ben Thornberry photographed activists acting up,” New York blade news, June 11, 1999, p. 25
Dwyer, Britta C. Anna Klumpke: a turn-of-the-century painter and her world. Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1999. ISBN 1-55553-386-8 ($35.00). About the American artist who was the longtime companion of Rosa Bonheur (to be reviewed in the next issue of the newsletter)
Fani-Kayode, Rotimi. Rotimi Fani-Kayode & Alex Hirst. Edited by Mark Sealy and Jean Loup Pivin. Paris: Revue Noire; London: Autograph, 1996. 128 p. ISBN 2909571173
Farson, Daniel. Gilbert and George: a portrait. New York: HarperCollins, 1999. ISBN 00025558572 ($20.00)
Feinstein, Howard, “The reluctant hero: famed gay artist Paul Cadmus tells us he’s not an activist, but his life’s work paints a different picture,” The advocate, issue 791-792 (Aug. 17, 1999), p. 101-104
Ferrari, Roberto C., "Simeon Solomon: a bibliographic study," Journal of pre-Raphaelite studies, no. 8 (spring 1999), p. 69-90
Fink, Leonard, “On the waterfront: photographs by Leonard Fink,” Metrosource, v. 10, no. 2 (summer 1999), p. 74-87. Photos from the collection of the National Archive of Lesbian & Gay History at the Lesbian & Gay Community Services Center, New York
Glueck, Grace, “Robert Indiana’s career: love and American style,” New York times, Aug. 27, 1999, p. B32
Grover, Jan Zita, “OI: opportunistic identification, open identification in PWA portraiture,” in Over exposed: essays on contemporary photography edited by Carol Squiers (New York: New Press, 1999), p. 105-122
Harris, Paul, “Where the art is: artists look beyond traditional galleries to get work displayed,” New York blade news, July 23, 1999, p. 21
Kaplan, Esther, “Afterimage: Muna Tseng’s last dance with her older brother, photographer Tseng Kwong Chi,” Poz, June 1999, p. 98-100
Leddick, David. The homoerotic art of Pavel Tchelitchev, 1929-1939. N. Pomfret, Vt.: Elysium Books, 1999. ISBN 1-893450-04-X ($75.00, limited ed. of 1000 copies) ISBN 1-893450-05-8 ($150.00, 100 numbered and slipcased copies)
http://www.sover.net/~elysium/
Lipton, Eunice. Alias Olympia: a woman’s search for Manet’s notorious model and her own desire. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. Now in paper, $11.95
"Male/female," Aperture, 156 (summer 1999). Includes "Male/female" by Vince Aletti, interview with Madonna, and "200 women" by Wayne Koestenbaum
Mavor, Carol. Becoming: the photographs of Clementina, Viscountess Hawarden. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, Aug. 1999. 232 p. ISBN 0-8223-2389-3 ($19.95 pbk.) ISBN 0-8223-2355-9 ($59.95 cloth)
McDermott, Keith, “The artist and the muse,” Out, issue 68 (July 1999), p. 54-59. About Peter Schlesinger, ceramist and the “Peter” of David Hockney paintings from the late 1960s and early 1970s
McGeveran, Tom, “Saving a virtuoso,” New York blade news, July 23, 1999, p. 1, 4. Saving Keith Haring’s mural at the Lesbian & Gay Community Services Center, New York, during the renovation
“Men without women: Paul Cadmus challenges traditional academic bias,” NA bulletin: the newsletter of the National Academy of Design, v. 15, no. 1 (spring 1999), p. 1, 4. On the occasion of the exhibition, curated by Cadmus
Mercer, Kobena, “Mortal coil: eros and diaspora in the photographs of Rotimi Fani-Kayode,” in Over exposed: essays on contemporary photography edited by Carol Squiers (New York: New Press, 1999), p. 183-210
Noh, Bruce, “Fortune and fame: artist and writer Charles Henri Ford says his life has been ‘like a movie’,” New York blade news, May 28, 1999, p. 23. On the occasion of the exhibition of his works at Ubu Gallery, New York
Nunley, Frederick, “Old style, new expression: an interview with artist Frederick Nunley by Rhomylly B. Forbes,” a&u, v. 8, no. 4 (April 1999), p. 34-37
Oguibe, Olu, “Finding a place: Nigerian artists in the contemporary art world,” Art journal, v. 58, no. 2 (summer 1999), p. 31-41. Includes discussion of Rotimi Fani-Kayude and Iké Udé
O’Reilly, John. Occupied territories: works from 1967-1999. Essay by Klaus Kertess. Boston: Howard Yezerski Gallery; New York: Julie Saul Gallery; Chicago: Stephen Daiter Photography, 1999. ISBN 1-887593-15-2 Exhibition catalog
O’Reilly, John. Self-portraits 1977-1995. Boston: Howard Yezerski Gallery, 1996. ISBN 1-887593-00-4 In conjunction with an exhibition, Jan.-Feb. 1996
Queer: Homosexualität und Kunst. Eislingen [Germany]: Kunstverein Eislingen, 1997. Exhibition catalog
Sutherland, Scott, “Exiled in Maine, the creator and prisoner of ‘Love’,” New York times, June 27, 1999, p. AR 30, 32. About Robert Indiana’s life in Vinalhaven
Vojtko, Joe, “The naked eye: Daniel Lee, Dieter Hall and Marianne Lévai address the great undressed,” Review, v. 4, no. 17 (June 15, 1999), p. 18-25. Includes review of Swiss artist Dieter Hall’s exhibit at La MaMA La Galleria, New York, through June 27, 1999
Zimet, Jaye, “You go, girls!” The advocate, Aug. 31, 1999, p. 72-73. About her new book Strange sisters: the art of lesbian pulp fiction (Penguin Studio, $19.95), with 5 color illustrations
(N.B. Photocopies of most of the articles listed here are available from the editors for a month or two after the date of this issue. Send your request for a photocopy to Sherman Clarke at the address listed in the editors note.)