JACK PIERSON (B. 1960)

Conceived in 1991 by the Alliance for the Arts in New York, Estate Project was established as an advocacy effort aimed at addressing “the protection of America’s cultural heritage during the AIDS crisis.” In this photograph, Jack Pierson makes a dedication to two figures: Johnnie Ray, the 1950s musician who precursored rock and roll, and Jack Smith, the film director and pioneer of underground cinema.