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Mesmerizing Art Made From Blood Highlights LGBT Injustice

To fete historic panel discussion on discriminatory policies in blood donations from gay and bisxual men, artistJordan Eagles' expands his Blood Mirror project.

Laura Feinstein
By Laura FeinsteinOct 01, 2015
Laura Feinstein
Current Deputy Editor at GOOD, Laura Feinstein writes about the intersection where art, technology, and global culture meet. Former Editor in Chief at The Creators Project at VICE, and a freelance writer for such diverse publications as The Guardian, T/The New York Times, VICE International, BOMB Magazine, PSFK.com, Pitchfork/Nothing Major, and Details Magazine (among others), Laura is always on the lookout for the new and unboring.
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There is an overwhelming need in both America and internationally for blood donations. Unfortunately, over the last 32 years men who have had sex with another man, even once, have been legally barred from donating blood—a bureaucratic remnant from the “gay panic” early years of the HIV scare. In 2014 the FDA announced it would be open to a revision in this policy—allowing gay and bisexual men (but only those who can claim a year of celibacy) the chance to donate.

Angered at the underlying homophobia behind the FDA’s ban, New York City-based artist Jordan Eagles created Blood Mirror—a 7-foot-tall monolith containing blood sampled from nine queer men, encased in resin and fully preserved. Seen up-close, the viewer can actually witness themselves reflected in the sculpture, evoking both curiosity and empathy.

Next week experts, activists and blood donors will coalesce at the American University Museum in Washington, D.C. for an historic (and free) public panel discussion on the FDA’s discriminatory policy on blood donations from gay and bisexual men. The highlight of the lecture will be an exhibition of both Blood Mirror and a luminous pop-up “blood and light” installation, also made from the blood used in Blood Mirror. A larger Blood Mirror exhibition is also currently on display at at the Katzen Arts Center in Washington, D.C. until October 18.

The October 6th panel and events are sponsored by FCB Health, and will feature discussions with Kelsey Louie, CEO at Gay Men's Health Crisis, Prof. I. Glenn Cohen, Faculty Director, Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology & Bioethics at Harvard Law School, Howard Grossman, M.D., Internist and former Director of the American Academy of HIV Medicine and Medical Supervisor and blood donor in Blood Mirror, Oliver Anene, LGBT Activist from Nigeria on political asylum in the US and blood donor in Blood Mirror, Scott Schoettes, HIV Project Director at Lambda Legal, and a performance by The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. The panel will be moderated by Mark Joseph Stern of Slate.com.

Below, check out Eagles’ inspiring video detailing this ongoing art project.

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