Unframed: Artists Respond To AIDS

UNFRAMED: ARTISTS RESPOND TO AIDS
By Community Research Initiative on AIDS (CRIA)
Art Direction by Tony Morgan
Text by J.A. Forde and Manuel Gonzalez

Clothbound, 10 x 12.5 inches, 132 pages, 339 four-color reproductions

Twenty years into the AIDS epidemic, the art world continues to be disproportionately affected by the upheaval caused by this disease. UNFRAMED: ARTISTS RESPOND TO AIDS not only showcases the works of over 100 master contemporary artists, but also stands as a dramatic testament to the generosity of artists at the turn of the millennium. For the past decade, these artists have donated their works to be sold for a single price for 'Unframed,' a unique art event held by the New York City-based AIDS research organization, Community Research Initiative on AIDS (CRIA). What began as a device to enliven a Fire Island cocktail party soon assumed a life and a raison d'etre all its own. In its ten years, proceeds from °Unframed' have raised over a million dollars. With the help of funds generated by the event, CRIA's research has contributed to the FDA approval of seven new AIDS treatments, and the agency has provided countless thousands of men and women fighting this disease with critical scientific information.

UNFRAMED features works by Ross Bleckner, Louise Bourgeois, George Condo, Eric Fischl, Nan Goldin, Alex Katz, Jeff Koons, Barbara Kruger, Roy Lichtenstein, Sally Mann, Claes Oldenburg, Juergen Teller, Spencer Tunick, Kenny Scharf, Julian Schnabel, David Seidner, Andres Serrano, Richard Serra, Cindy Sherman, Hunt Slonem, Kiki Smith, Philip Taaffe, Bruce Weber, and works by powerHouse Books authors Jack Pierson (ALL OF A SUDDEN) and Juno Books author Alexis Rockman (CONCRETE JUNGLE), in addition to many more.

The Community Research Initiative on AIDS (CRIA) is a non-profit community-based AIDS research and treatment education center based in New York City.

Tony Morgan's fifteen-year design career has included books by Brice Marden, Francesco Clemente, James Rosenquist, and more, as well as catalogues for Gagosian, Barbara Gladstone, and PaceWildenstein galleries of shows by Ed Ruscha, Philip Taaffe, and Sophie Calle. Morgan's collaboration with Matthew Barney on publications, inspired by the artist's Cremaster series, have been universally lauded for their ingenuity.

J.A. Forde assisted with the organization of 'Unframed 2' and has been responsible for securing the participation of artists and event preparation for all succeeding sales. Since 1995, Forde has been CRIA's Development Director, overseeing the agency's fundraising.

Manuel Gonzalez is the Executive Director of the JP Morgan Chase art collection, perhaps the most important corporate repository of modern art in the world. He has curated dozens of major art exhibitions in the United States and worldwide. Gonzalez has contributed to numerous publications, including Artforum, Flash Art, and Parkett.