Black Gay And Gone

During the 1980s Patric McCoy, an environmental scientist and collector of African American art, traveled around Chicago with his camera snapping thousands of images of gay Black men. The images — always taken at the subjects’ request — document a difficult decade, by the end of which thousands would die of HIV/AIDS, including many of McCoy’s own friends, lovers, and subjects. Neither directed nor posed each man controlled how he appeared, making these images particularly successful in capturing a moment in time and space, and serving as a memorial to what (and who) was lost.A new exhibit, Patric McCoy: Take My Picture, curates 50 black-and-white and color photographic portrayals of these images of gay Black men on the streets of Chicago in the 1980s. Below is a sneak peek into the show, which will run at Wrightwood 659 in Chicago from April 14 – July 15, 2023.All photos Patric McCoy Two Young Men and Waves Two Young Men and Waves, 1985, by Patric McCoy. Courtesy of the artist. Cream and Green Cream and Green, 1985, by Patric McCoy. Courtesy of the artist. El Smirk El Smirk, 1985, by Patric McCoy. Courtesy of the artist. RialtoRialto, 1985, by Patric McCoy. Courtesy of the artist. The Rialto Tap, a now defunct gay bar in the South Loop of Chicago, drew many of McCoy’s muses. Open around the clock, it was one of few places where black men could socialize with other black men; and attracted men from all walks of life: downtown professionals, unhoused people, drag queens, gangsters, “buppies.”JeffJeff, 1985, by Patric McCoy. Courtesy of the artist. YoungbloodsYoungbloods, 1985, by Patric McCoy. Courtesy of the artist. FiveFive, 1985, by Patric McCoy. Courtesy of the artist. Smoke Clouds, 1985, by Patric McCoy. Courtesy of the artist.

Mar 23, 2023 - 20:00
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Black Gay And Gone


During the 1980s Patric McCoy, an environmental scientist and collector of African American art, traveled around Chicago with his camera snapping thousands of images of gay Black men. The images — always taken at the subjects’ request — document a difficult decade, by the end of which thousands would die of HIV/AIDS, including many of McCoy’s own friends, lovers, and subjects. Neither directed nor posed each man controlled how he appeared, making these images particularly successful in capturing a moment in time and space, and serving as a memorial to what (and who) was lost.

A new exhibit, Patric McCoy: Take My Picture, curates 50 black-and-white and color photographic portrayals of these images of gay Black men on the streets of Chicago in the 1980s. Below is a sneak peek into the show, which will run at Wrightwood 659 in Chicago from April 14 – July 15, 2023.

All photos Patric McCoy

 Two Young Men and Waves 


Two Young Men and Waves, 1985, by Patric McCoy

Two Young Men and Waves, 1985, by Patric McCoy. Courtesy of the artist.

Cream and Green


Cream and Green, 1985, by Patric McCoy. Courtesy of the artist.

El Smirk


El Smirk, 1985, by Patric McCoy

El Smirk, 1985, by Patric McCoy. Courtesy of the artist.

Rialto


Rialto, 1985, by Patric McCoy.

Rialto, 1985, by Patric McCoy. Courtesy of the artist.

The Rialto Tap, a now defunct gay bar in the South Loop of Chicago, drew many of McCoy’s muses. Open around the clock, it was one of few places where black men could socialize with other black men; and attracted men from all walks of life: downtown professionals, unhoused people, drag queens, gangsters, “buppies.”

Jeff


Jeff, 1985, by Patric McCoy

Jeff, 1985, by Patric McCoy. Courtesy of the artist.

Youngbloods


Youngbloods, 1985, by Patric McCoy

Youngbloods, 1985, by Patric McCoy. Courtesy of the artist.

Five


Five, 1985, by Patric McCoy.

Five, 1985, by Patric McCoy. Courtesy of the artist.


Smoke Clouds, 1985, by Patric McCoy

Smoke Clouds, 1985, by Patric McCoy. Courtesy of the artist.

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