Optic Nerve The CD-ROM Optic Nerve is an interactive journey through the work of influential underground artist David Wojnarowicz. Produced in conjunction with the New Museum of Contemporary Art's exhibit Fever: The Art of David Wojnarowicz, it encompasses music, writing, film, painting and performance - much of which has never been reproduced before. Optic Nerve illustrates the diverse talent of an artist who was expanding the limits of multimedia long before the advent of interactive media. Wojnarowicz, who died of AIDS related causes in 1992, was a protean artist who worked with powerful and effective intensity in a variety of media including painting, photography, writing, performance, installation, music and film. He was also an influential political activist whose life and work struggled with many issues related to human rights, sexual identity and AIDS. Optic Nerve features an interactive version of ITSOFOMO, the title Wojnarowicz gave to a series of public performances that featured readings from his work with multiple video images created and selected by the artist. The disc also offers an overview of his work, including reproduction of major pieces in every media in which he worked. But the disc's real strength is to highlight work that has not been available elsewhere - particularly videos and films made by or featuring Wojnarowicz, spoken word pieces, music performed by the artist and collaborators and extensive interviews. Optic Nerve was originally available from the New
Museum bookstore in New York City. $4 per unit from the sale of each
disc was donated to the Hetrick Martin Institute - an organization for
gay and lesbian youth which Wojnarowicz supported during his lifetime.
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