David Wojnarowicz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Wojnarowicz
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David Wojnarowicz, from the book Fire in the Belly: The Life and Times of David Wojnarowicz
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| Born | September 14, 1954 Red Bank, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Died | July 22, 1992 (aged 37) New York City, U.S.
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| Nationality | American, Australian |
David Michael Wojnarowicz (VOY-nə-ROH-vitch; September 14, 1954 – July 22, 1992) was an American artist. He was a painter, photographer, writer, and filmmaker. He was also an AIDS activist. David was a well-known artist in the East Village art scene in New York City.
His art often shared his personal stories. It also showed his strong feelings about social issues. He continued to create art until he died from AIDS in 1992.
Contents
About David Wojnarowicz
David Wojnarowicz was born in Red Bank, New Jersey. His father, Ed Wojnarowicz, was a Polish-American merchant marine. His mother, Dolores McGuinness, was from Australia. After his parents separated, David and his siblings faced challenges. They later moved to New York City to live with their mother.
David graduated from the High School of Music & Art in Manhattan. By age 17, he was living independently. He returned to New York in the late 1970s. He soon became a key artist in the avant-garde art movement. This movement used many different art forms.
Early Art and Collaborations
David first gained attention for his stencil art. These stencils showed houses on fire. They appeared on buildings in the East Village. From 1977 to 1979, he created a photo series about Arthur Rimbaud. He also worked with the band 3 Teens Kill 4. They released an EP called No Motive in 1982.
He made his own super-8 films. He also worked with filmmakers Richard Kern and Tommy Turner. These artists were part of the Cinema of Transgression. David showed his art in famous East Village galleries. These included Civilian Warfare Gallery and Gracie Mansion Gallery.
David also worked with many other artists. These included Nan Goldin, Peter Hujar, and Kiki Smith.
Friendship and Activism
In 1981, David met photographer Peter Hujar. Peter became a very close friend and mentor to David. Peter died from AIDS in 1987. David then moved into Peter's art studio. David was also diagnosed with AIDS soon after. He lived the last five years of his life in Peter's studio. He used Peter's darkroom and art supplies.
Peter's death inspired David to create art with strong messages. He focused on raising awareness about the AIDS crisis. He worked with video artist Tom Rubnitz on the film Listen to This (1992). This film criticized how the government handled the crisis. The film was shown at MoMA in a special exhibit.
In 1985, David's work was featured in the Whitney Biennial. This is a major art exhibition. In the 1990s, he took legal action to protect his art. He successfully defended his work from being copied and changed.
Famous Artworks
Some of David Wojnarowicz's well-known artworks include:
- Untitled (One Day This Kid...)
- Untitled (Buffalo)
- Water
- Birth of Language II
- Untitled (Shark)
- Untitled (Peter Hujar)
- True Myth (Domino Sugar)
Writing and Films
David also wrote two memoirs. A memoir is a book about a person's life.
- Close to the Knives: A Memoir of Disintegration (1991)
- Memories that Smell like Gasoline (1992)
Close to the Knives talks about his life and becoming an artist. It also shares his feelings about his friend Peter Hujar. In 1989, David appeared in the film Silence = Death. This film was about artists in New York City. They were fighting for the rights of people with AIDS.
David Wojnarowicz passed away in Manhattan on July 22, 1992. He was 37 years old.
David Wojnarowicz's Legacy
David Wojnarowicz's art continues to inspire people. His work is still shown in major art exhibitions.
Exhibitions After His Death
In 2011, the P.P.O.W. gallery showed Spirituality. This exhibit included David's drawings, photos, and videos. A reviewer called it a "mini-retrospective." It helped people understand his honest and powerful art.
In 2018, the Whitney Museum of American Art held a large show. It was called David Wojnarowicz: History Keeps Me Awake at Night. This exhibition received praise from around the world.
Impact on Others
In 1992, the band U2 used David's photo "Untitled (Buffaloes)" for their song "One". They also used this image during their Zoo TV Tour. U2 donated a lot of money from their music to AIDS charities.
David's activism also inspired others. He once wrote about what it would be like if people protested by bringing bodies of those who died from AIDS to the White House. In 1992, an activist named David Robinson scattered his partner's ashes at the White House. He said David Wojnarowicz's writing inspired him. In 1996, David Wojnarowicz's own ashes were scattered on the White House lawn.
His name is mentioned in the song "Hot Topic" by the band Le Tigre. His audio journals inspired the album Life, and Another by Mega Bog.
In 2021, actor Dan Levy wore an outfit at the Met Gala. It featured an adapted version of David's artwork. This artwork showed two men kissing. It was created with the support of David's art estate.
Books by David Wojnarowicz
- Sounds in the Distance. (1982)
- Tongues of Flame. (1990)
- Close to the Knives: A Memoir of Disintegration. (1991)
- Memories That Smell Like Gasoline. (1992)
- Seven Miles a Second. (1996) – a graphic novel completed after his death.
- The Waterfront Journals. (1997)
- Rimbaud In New York 1978–1979. (2004)
- In the Shadow of the American Dream: The Diaries of David Wojnarowicz. (2000)
- Willie World. (1998) – as an illustrator.
- Weight of the Earth: The Tape Journals of David Wojnarowicz. (2018)
Films by and About David Wojnarowicz
Directed by David Wojnarowicz
- Fire in my Belly (1986-1987)
- Beautiful People (1987)
About David Wojnarowicz
- Post Cards from America (1994) – a film about David's life.
- Wojnarowicz: Fk You F*ggot Fker (2021) – a documentary about his life.
Music and Multimedia Projects
- 3 Teens Kill 4 EP No Motive (1982)
- David Wojnarowicz & Ben Neill: ITSOFOMO (In the Shadow of Forward Motion) (1992)
- Optic Nerve CD-ROM (1999)
- Cross Country (2018)
Images for kids
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David Wojnarowicz, from the book Fire in the Belly: The Life and Times of David Wojnarowicz
See also
- Joel Wachs, who supported the display of Wojnarowicz's art.
