Protected by San Francisco: Guest Artist Farid de la Ossa

Please welcome back guest artist Farid de la Ossa of Colombia.

Protected by San Francisco

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One year ago I arrived in San Francisco for the first time. Since then, my attention has been called to all the services and all the many people and institutions that are always willing to help LGBTQ people and people with HIV who come from anywhere in the world to this city. In honor of the wonderful attention that San Francisco has given me and many others who have come to the Bay Area, I decided to make this painting.

It depicts figures that represent the city, including the Golden Gate Bridge and the statue of San Francisco that appears at the entrance of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. San Francisco's symbols are bringing light to a rainbow-dressed person who is lying on the lap of a light pink dressed person, who, for me, are the representatives of the LGBTQ community who in many ways have received the unconditional protection and care from San Francisco. The light pink dressed person represents all those people who act like angels within the city of San Francisco and who, in many unexpected ways, have helped me and have helped the many LGBTQ people who come to the city for refuge.

As a conclusion for the description of this painting I would just like to quote what Tyrell Pough said in his writing “Continuation of the Life” which is part of the book called “The Full Spectrum” edited by David Levithan and Billy Merrell. Pugh said:

I indentify as a gay male who’s open-minded and believes that anything is possible.

I would just add that many people like me have had the chance to really think and do what Pugh says because of the support of the city of San Francisco. The materials used in this painting were color pencils, water paint and acrylics on cardboard paper.

Categories: guest+artist Farid+de+la+Ossa HIV AIDS LGBTQ HIV/AIDS San+Francisco compassion