Loss Within Loss: Artists in the Age of AIDS

by Edmund White (Editor)

"A searing, and often bitingly funny collection of personal essays by almost two dozen writers—John Berendt, Brad Gooch, Allan Gurganus, and Sarah Schulman among them— Loss within Loss remembers over twenty creative artists lost to AIDS in the past twenty years, including poet James Merrill, filmmaker Derek Jarman, and painter and writer David Wojnarowicz. Rather than being a harrowing, in-the-trenches account of AIDS . . . Loss within Loss is a reflective, self-possessed, and frequently inspiring testimonial, benefiting from the perspective that only time provides."—David Bahr, The Advocate

Author Biography: Edmund White is the award-winning author of The Married Man, The Farewell Symphony, Genet, The Beautiful Room Is Empty, A Boy's Own Story, and several other books. He is professor of creative writing at Princeton University.

Genres: Nonfiction, LGBT, Art, Disability, Queer, Essays

305 pages, Paperback

First published December 18, 2000

About the author

Edmund Valentine White III was an American novelist, memoirist, playwright, biographer, and essayist. He was the recipient of Lambda Literary's Visionary Award, the National Book Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award, and the PEN/Saul Bellow Award for Achievement in American Fiction. France made him Chevalier (and later Officier) de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1993.
White was known as a groundbreaking writer of gay literature and a major influence on gay American literature and has been called "the first major queer novelist to champion a new generation of writers."

Reviews

[Ije the Devourer of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant set of essays remembering people of the arts who were lost to AIDS. The book celebrates their lives and their talents, but mourns their loss and the loss of their talent, ideas, art. All that we will never see and can only imagine. In this set of essays we are reminded about the creativity which was lost when these writers, architects, dancers, film stars, designers, artists and were so prematurely taken.

And it does this through the eyes of the friends and colleagues left behind.

This book was published in 2001 a few years after the Aids pandemic turned the corner and people began to live with the virus. In this sense the book looks back over the time of crisis twenty years before. The book is so beautiful in it's honesty. It doesn't try to paint the lost as heroes but shows them as human beings, warts and all. It tells us about the ways in which they lived, their art, the impact of the virus on their lives and the impact of their death on those left behind and the loss: the art that could have been. It tells the story of their art and their contributions and achievements, as well as their lack of achievement and goals that were envisaged but not attained.

This is also a book of learning about different kinds of art. I was taken from the writings of Robert Ferro and the writing of Michael Grumley, to the photography of Mark Morrisoe, then to the dancing of Joah Lowe, the architecture of Franklin D. Israel, the films of Warren Sonbert, and the poems of James Merrill. It left me feeling truly privileged.

I read this book with my Ipad in one hand and the book in the other. Again and again I found myself lost in discovery, searching on the internet for pictures, films and further information about these creative and talented people. I learnt things about different forms of art, checking things on Amazon, Youtube and Wicki, adding to my wish list and to do list, and learning from these people who are no longer with us.

I also found myself awash with art as if this one book of memoirs opened the door to an ocean of beauty, energy, discovery and adventure. And in this way the dead touch and continue to shape the lives of the living.

The book reminds us of these artists as human beings who had hopes, dreams, loves, relationships and all kinds of ups and downs. It also shows us how they dealt with their diagnoses and impending death and the way in which they were able to prepare for their death or the way their friends responded by managing their work after their death. In this way the book reminds us about legacy and the work of the Estates Project which helps artists arrange for what will happen to their work when they die.

There is also something in this book that speaks about grace and thankfulness. These men knew they didn't have the time they needed, many of them were cut off in their thirties and forties, some before their art had really flourished. The book shows us without telling us directly, that we shouldn't take life or time for granted. It reminds us to find our own 'art' and take joy from it, work hard at it and seek fulfilment from life. I liked this because I don't consider myself to be an artist but I appreciate the art of others and I want to spend time reflecting on the things I have read and thinking about how they enrich my own life and how I in turn can draw upon my learning and share my learning and experiences with others.

These men through their art managed to share life with others and even though they are no longer here they continue to do so. It is books like these that enable this.

And so this is an really amazing book because the art which flowed from these lives continues to touch lives many years later. Just as art should do. It should be living, breathing and touching even though the artists have passed on.

It is a privilege to read these and also enjoyable. Even though there is a real sense of loss I was able to remember and reflect. I think remembering is honouring. Remembering also reminds me to invest in the things I am doing and to take each day as a gift. Remembering also makes me thankful because there is so much wisdom in the lives of others.

Reading these stories written by people who knew these artists has reminded me how much there is to discover about our world and the many endless possibilities.

And the book is also reminder that HIV and AIDS still affects people today and many people whose stories will never be told in this way.

It is in summary a beautiful set of essays about real people with real lives flaws and all, but beautiful in memory.

[Alvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ranging in quality from beautifully written to meh, this collection offers up a mixed bag of ecomiums to a mind-bendingly varied group of artists. Yes, it's sad, but also inspiring and moving and fascinating.

[Marcelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written tributes from several authors, edited by Edmond White, that survived their artist friends who died from AIDS related illness before the advent of protease inhibitors. Without being overtly somber or morose, the short writings honour some forgotten contributors, and some renowned in the fields of architecture, literature, design, visual arts, music, theater, and film. These stories deal with the deaths occurring before the USFDA approval of life prolonging meds, and at a time in the AIDS discourse when the average age, at time of death, was 32. Many provoking questions are raised about age, legacy, and value. Some pieces are told from a very intimate POV, while others place the significance of the artist. A beautifully compiled and touching collection.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating collection of essays on artists lost to AIDS. From those who achieved a body of work despite a shortened life, to those who were denied a full artistic pursuit by disease and the government that ignored its citizens death. The best essays give a lovely portrait of an individual person with a creative mind and a wealth of friends and family doing justice by sharing memories of the life and loss of their dead. I ended up forming a tattoo inspired by one of the essays, in memory of queer artists, what we lost to AIDS, and to love of creativity.