FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 5, 2004

EQUALITY FORUM 2004 PRESENTS ANNUAL ART EXHIBIT
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS FROM APRIL 26 TO MAY 2

Equality Forum 2004 presents "Pure: The Works of David Hilliard and Ryan McGuinley," in collaboration with The University of the Arts, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, April 26 to May 2 at the Sol Mednick Gallery and Gallery 1401, 211 South Broad Street. This show marks the 5th annual Equality Forum art exhibit and features two respected photographers, each presenting their ordinary environments in contrast to normal perceptions.

The art exhibit is open to the public, free of charge.

David Hilliard's photography brings scenes from daily life into focus, yet in the panoramic presentation of his photos and his attention to focal planes shift, he is able to guide the viewer through scenes of the ordinary that now take on deeper meanings.

Mr. Hilliard received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Massachusetts College of Art in Boston and his Masters of Fine Arts degree from Yale University in New Haven, Conn. Since then he has had numerous solo and group exhibitions in museums and galleries in the United States, Germany and Spain. Mr. Hilliard has received many awards, including Guggenheim and Fulbright fellowships, and he has taught at Yale and Harvard universities.

Ryan McGinley's works capture spontaneous scenes from his life, focusing on his diverse group of friends, documenting the highs and lows of their existence. Because Mr. McGinley is part of the East Village subculture he photographs, he is able to clearly convey insight into his subjects.

Mr. McGinley received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Parsons School of Design in New York. He has had a number of solo and group exhibitions in the United States, Canada, Italy and Germany. 2002 brought his first solo show at the Whitney Museum in New York. He was recognized with a front-page feature in the January 2003 Sunday Style section of The New York Times and was named one of Out magazine's "Top 100 of 2003." Indexbooks published Mr. McGinley's first, self-titled, book in 2002.

Previous Equality Forum art exhibits include: the 2000 Andy Warhol exhibit, presented in collaboration with Pittsburgh's Andy Warhol museum; the 2001 Artistic Alternatives,
featuring Keith Haring, David Hockney, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol; the 2002 Retrospecive of Tseng Kwong Shi; and last years Exuberance!, the works of Rachelle Lee Smith and Young Gay America's Mike Glatze and Benjie Nycum.
Equality Forum 2004 is April 26 to May 2 in Philadelphia. For more information call 215-732-3378 or visit www.equalityforum.com.

Equality Forum is the largest regional, national and international Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) civil rights forum, working to create understanding about homophobia and its multifaceted impact on individuals, families and society. Each year, in addition to highlighting GLBT organizations and issues, Equality Forum designates a Featured Nation and explores that country's GLBT culture, social issues and advancements in civil rights. Equality Forum embraces a number of high-impact projects throughout the year, including the production of the documentary films Gay Pioneers and JIM IN BOLD.

Equality Forum is a nonprofit and 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Philadelphia, the site of some of the earliest gay civil rights protests.

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