The reason I offered background concerning those three events is because they create a cohesive story about Herron’s Tub Shot of Keith Haring. The events assist me in explaining what Photo of Keith Haring was doing socially and culturally when Don Herron created it. This photo puts Haring, an incredibly outspoken and courageous activist, in a very vulnerable position. As previously noted, Haring was known for his queer activism and eventual battle with AIDS, which made him a perfect candidate for Herron’s series. Herron scoped out camp and “hippie” artists like Haring who were honest about their sexuality through their medium. 

This photo was taken in 1982, six years before Haring was diagnosed with AIDS. At the time of this photo, the CDC was taking steps to identify the disease and educate the public about it, despite the blatant homophobia that surrounded it. This photo shows Haring’s ability to expose himself (figuratively and literally) even though he was in such a dangerous position. Fear was a common byproduct of queerness and almost anything that wasn’t the norm, so putting Haring in this photo was a testament to queer people to keep going and keep fighting because there are people like him willing to be vulnerable for them, but that their fear is still valid.  

Herron’s ability to find artists that represented both joy and tragedy isn’t lost on Haring, since he ultimately did die around eight years after this photo was taken. He fit the description perfectly of a hippie artist who was living too fast, hence Herron’s choice to include him in the Tub Shots collection. 

“A Timeline of HIV and AIDS.” HIV.gov, https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/history/hiv-and-aids-timeline#year-1982. Accessed 31 March 2024. 

Fields, Liz. “Facing death from AIDS, Keith Haring kept creating.” PBS, 19 Nov 2020, https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/facing-death-from-aids-keith-haring-kept-creating/16169/. Accessed 31 March 2024. 

Haring, Keith. National Coming Out Day logo, 1988. https://opentable.lgbt/our-blog/2022/2/2/lgbt-history-month-meet-keith-haring-pop-artist-and-aids-awareness-advocate#:~:text=In%201988%2C%20Haring%20designed%20the,about%20AIDS%20through%20his%20art. Accessed 31 March 2024. 

Haring, Keith. Stop Aids artwork, 1989. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/facing-death-from-aids-keith-haring-kept-creating/16169/. Accessed 31 March 2024. 

Herron, Don. Photo of Keith Haring, 1982. https://www.danielcooneyfineart.com/artists/don-herron/featured-works. Accessed 31 March 2024.

Herron, Don. Photo of Robert Mapplethorpe, 1972. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/facing-death-from-aids-keith-haring-kept-creating/16169/. Accessed 31 March 2024. 

“LGBT+ History Month - Meet Keith Haring, Pop Artist and AIDS Awareness Advocate.” Open Table Network, 27 Mar. 2024, https://opentable.lgbt/our-blog/2022/2/2/lgbt-history-month-meet-keith-haring-pop-artist-and-aids-awareness-advocate#:~:text=In%201988%2C%20Haring%20designed%20the,about%20AIDS%20through%20his%20art. Accessed 31 March 2024. 

ultrawolvesunderthefullmoon, “Don Herron.” ultrawolvesunderthefullmoon, 1 Feb 2022, 

https://ultrawolvesunderthefullmoon.blog/2022/02/01/don-herron/. Accessed 31 March 2024.