AIDS Doesn't Go on Holidays: NY Artist holds fundraiser

In Section: NY comPRESSed: Art, Manhattan, Health, Culture, Sex And Relationships= Posted B= y: Andy Seccombe=

December is certainly a time to frantically buy Christmas gifts, make holiday plans and party like little else matters. But it also happ= ens to be World AIDS Month. Taking time out from the season’s more tradition= al festivities, last night NY artist Ang-Ray held a fund raising event to help with the treatment and prevention of AIDS= .

Media executiv= es, charity workers, art buyers, entertainers and friends packed into the artist’s 7th floor Chels= ea gallery, taking in a collection of works spanning three different series. Garnering particular attention were the elliptical and abstract pieces (part of his Olympix series) and Ang-Ray explained that all his work is about people connecting.

“My artw= ork is about uplifting, connection and helping each other,” he said, describ= ing how the multi-colored ellipses from the Olympix series represented the many ethnicities of the world.

Born in Borneo, Ang-Ray has lived in NY since 1998 and expl= ained that he has friends that have died or continue to suffer from AIDS. It̵= 7;s this personal exposure which in turn motivated h= im to be involved in some form of AIDS benefit.

“The fac= t that I know a person personally [who died]…and he was young; he was like 30-something. It’s still going on and I’m happy I’m doing this,” he said.

The proceeds from the evening will be forwarded to two AIDS awareness organizations, Cable Positive and Living Beyond Belief. The gallery will al= so be open this week for private viewings. For more info v= isit www.ang-ray.com.