Patrick Willow
he/they
Rochester, NY, USA
I am a queer nonbinary interdisciplinary 3D artist from Dallas, TX living in Rochester, New York.
“I explore autobiographical storytelling utilizing the palimpsest of everyday objects as meditational works to process recurring memories of pain and loss. In my day-to-day, I experience vivid stories that are brought upon by mundane objects that we normally overlook – some, my own stories of loss, and other stories, full of compassion for people I may never know. In using objects with history to assemble larger iconographical objects, I create space for people who are isolated in their experiences so that their lived feelings and memories are actualized and materialized in our shared world.”
What does being queer mean to you in relation to your material choices? Is it something you consider?
“I recycle my grandparents' heirloom silverware to transform heteronormative inherited property into queer artifacts that one day shall be given to members of my queer chosen family members whom will have a greater understanding and connection to these queer symbols and objects that are tied to the lived history of queer people."
"30 Day Supply (PrEP)", Sterling silver, diamond, gold gilt foil, black & white opals, 4" x 1.75". x 23", 2024Is the work queer because the maker is queer, or is it queer because the subject matter is queer?
“Both and neither. Is that not the beauty of being queer - distinctively outside the boundaries of societal expectations. In general, my work is both and neither. It is for the in-crowd who knows and for the out-crowd who may appreciate the aesthetic or historical impact that I am in dialogue.
‘30 Day Supply (PrEP)’ is a reflection on the HIV/AIDS epidemic which has disproportionately impacted the queer men or men who have sex with men (MSM) demographic. Queer people lost a generation of elders to HIV/AIDS. I came of age when the fear of HIV was still very alarming and real. But then, single-dose regiments of antiretrovirals, like Atripla, came to market which were effective enough to provide a life equal to that of HIV-negative individuals. Then, science ushered in Pre-Exposure Prophylactics or ‘PrEP’, like Truvada, which prevents the transmission of HIV. In this piece, the first approved PrEP drug, Truvada, has been cast in the form of a 30-day supply of pills necklace, bottle and cap pendant, and desiccant. The PrEP drug Truvada was the first silver bullet to allow a new generation of queer people to live without the fear of HIV."
Anything else you would like to share about this work? This can be an important part of the process, sourcing materials, or research.
“I dedicate this piece to those loved ones whom we lost or may have never known."
