Co-Sponsored by Yale GALA, Yale LGBTQ Affinity Group and Yale AIDS Memorial Project
Join us for a viewing of works by Hugh Steers ‘85 acquired by the Yale University Art Gallery.
Remarks by:
- Louis Wiley Jr. ‘67 (bio below)
- Lisa Hodermarsky, Sutphin Family Senior Associate Curator of Prints and Drawings, YUAG
- Nick Robbins ‘10, MA ‘16, Co-Founder, Yale AIDS Memorial Project
Followed by a reception at Rose Alumni House, 232 York Street generously hosted by Louis.
SPACE IS LIMITED AND RSVP REQUIRED
After the reception, we recommend participating in Dining Out For Life, a benefit for AIDS Project New Haven.
Click here for a list of participating restaurants
Background
In the summer of 2016 Lou Wiley ‘67 spoke with Lisa Hodermarsky, one of the curators at the Gallery, about his desire to honor the memory of his Yale classmate, Paul Monette ‘67 and Paul’s partner Roger Horwitz for Lou’s upcoming 50th Reunion next month. A number of artists were discussed, and then serendipity happened. Lisa traveled to New York City to see the work of Hugh Steers ‘85. In a subsequent visit with Acting Director Pamela Franks three paintings were selected for presentation to the Collections Committee of the Gallery’s Governing Board.
To view Paul Monette’s ’67 and Hugh Steers ‘85 memorials on the Yale AIDS Memorial Project:
Paul Monette
Hugh Steers
Louis Wiley Jr. ‘67
After graduating from law school in 1970, Wiley began a 35 year career at WGBH, the public TV station in Boston and would wind up as Executive Editor of FRONTLINE, the public affairs documentary series before (sort of) retiring in 2009. His main job was helping to sort out the story ideas for film treatment and then challenging filmmakers and reporters from a journalistic perspective. From time to time he was called upon for advice on controversial matters confronting the station.
He says that he is proudest of one filmmaker’s series of investigative reports that included helping get wrongly convicted men out of prison, and his biggest regret was getting fooled by a phony source in the run up to the 2003 Iraq War.
On the personal front, he quit his job for a period of five years in the 1990s to become the caregiver for his ailing mother. A decision of the heart that many years later, he believes, would be reflected in his appreciation for the work of Hugh Steers. He came out publicly late in life by attending a GALA function on campus in 2007 and then began racing backwards in a self-directed effort to learn more about LGBTQ history through art and literature. He has made possible the purchase of art work with an LGBTQ aspect by several museums. He also supports cultural institutions whose themes and focus touch on matters of concern to the community.