Latex Ball, Manhattan, NY, 2010: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A color photographic print depicting an individual holding a GMHC flier and a handful of free NYC condoms at the 2010 Latex Ball in Manhattan. The image is focused on the individual's hands; their head and shoulders are not in the frame. At center of the image the individual's proper right hands a Gay Men's Health Center (GMHC) flier that reads [CHOICES / A workshop for HIV-positive / Black and Latino gay men] across the top. At bottom left is the GMHC logo and slogan [FIGHT AIDS. LOVE LIFE.]. On top of the flier is a single condom in black packaging with [NYC] printed in white circles and [CONDOM] printed in rainbow lettering. The individual holds additional condoms and fliers in their other hand. There are no inscriptions, front or back.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 2010
• Photograph by: Gerard H. Gaskin, Trinidadian American, born 1965
• Subject of: GMHC, American, founded 1981
• Printed by: Light Work, American, founded 1973
• Type: inkjet prints
• Medium: ink on Canson Baryta photographique paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet) : 16 × 20 in. (40.6 × 50.8 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Image) : 12 5/8 × 19 in. (32.1 × 48.3 cm)
• Place captured: Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Communities
• Topic: Dance
• Topic: Fashion
• Topic: Gender
• Topic: Health
• Topic: Identity
• Topic: LGBTQ
• Object number: 2019.71.28
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © Gerard Gaskin Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.