Jeremy Ayers | |
---|---|
Born | 1948 |
Died | October 24, 2016 (aged 67–68) |
Nationality | American |
Occupations |
|
Jeremy Ayers (1948 – October 24, 2016) was an American artist, writer, photographer, and musician. [1] Ayers was a member of the Athens, Georgia, creative community, published three books of photography, and co-wrote songs for The B-52's and R.E.M. [2] [3] [4] In 2021, a newly discovered species of ant ( Strumigenys ayersthey) was named in his honor. [5]
Born Charles Jerry Ayers, he grew up in Athens, Georgia where his father Robert H. Ayers taught theology at the University of Georgia. [6] He became involved (as "Sylva Thinn") with Andy Warhol's Factory in the 1970s. [4] Ayers wrote for Interview and published three books of photography (Aeronautica, 2011; Today in New York, 2011; and Occupy!, 2012), which featured scenes from Athens, New York City street life, and Occupy Wall Street. [2] [4]
Ayers was credited as co-writer of " 52 Girls" from the debut album of The B-52's. [3] He also worked with fellow Athens musicians R.E.M., co-writing the song " Old Man Kensey" from the 1985 album Fables of the Reconstruction. [4]
His father Robert was a civil rights advocate and professor of religion at the University of Georgia. [2] [5]
On October 24, 2016, Ayers died unexpectedly of a seizure at the age of 68. [5]
Following his death, the Athens Institute for Contemporary Art presented a month-long exhibition featuring Ayers's work titled "Out There: Photographs in the spirit of Jeremy Ayers." [7] In addition to photographs taken by Ayers, the exhibit included photography done by other artists taken "in the same spirit" of his work. [7]
In 2017 Ayers's friend Michael Stipe presented an art installation in his honor at Moogfest in Durham, North Carolina. [3] The installation, titled "Jeremy Dance," featured footage of Ayers dancing to a 120 beats per minute disco song; Stipe then paired the dancing footage with music specially composed (using a Moog synthesizer and a Roland Juno) to match Ayers's movements. [3]
In 2021 German entomologist Phillip Hoenle discovered a new species of ant, which he sent to Yale University taxonomic expert Douglas Booher. [8] After receiving the blessing of Stipe, Booher decided to name the ant Strumigenys ayersthey after Ayers. [5] The "they" in ayersthey refers to the singular they "in a celebration of gender diversity." [9] According to Booher, Ayers himself identified as a gay man; the "they" suffix was intended to honor both Ayers's LGBT activism and the non-binary community. [8]
Jeremy Ayers | |
---|---|
Born | 1948 |
Died | October 24, 2016 (aged 67–68) |
Nationality | American |
Occupations |
|
Jeremy Ayers (1948 – October 24, 2016) was an American artist, writer, photographer, and musician. [1] Ayers was a member of the Athens, Georgia, creative community, published three books of photography, and co-wrote songs for The B-52's and R.E.M. [2] [3] [4] In 2021, a newly discovered species of ant ( Strumigenys ayersthey) was named in his honor. [5]
Born Charles Jerry Ayers, he grew up in Athens, Georgia where his father Robert H. Ayers taught theology at the University of Georgia. [6] He became involved (as "Sylva Thinn") with Andy Warhol's Factory in the 1970s. [4] Ayers wrote for Interview and published three books of photography (Aeronautica, 2011; Today in New York, 2011; and Occupy!, 2012), which featured scenes from Athens, New York City street life, and Occupy Wall Street. [2] [4]
Ayers was credited as co-writer of " 52 Girls" from the debut album of The B-52's. [3] He also worked with fellow Athens musicians R.E.M., co-writing the song " Old Man Kensey" from the 1985 album Fables of the Reconstruction. [4]
His father Robert was a civil rights advocate and professor of religion at the University of Georgia. [2] [5]
On October 24, 2016, Ayers died unexpectedly of a seizure at the age of 68. [5]
Following his death, the Athens Institute for Contemporary Art presented a month-long exhibition featuring Ayers's work titled "Out There: Photographs in the spirit of Jeremy Ayers." [7] In addition to photographs taken by Ayers, the exhibit included photography done by other artists taken "in the same spirit" of his work. [7]
In 2017 Ayers's friend Michael Stipe presented an art installation in his honor at Moogfest in Durham, North Carolina. [3] The installation, titled "Jeremy Dance," featured footage of Ayers dancing to a 120 beats per minute disco song; Stipe then paired the dancing footage with music specially composed (using a Moog synthesizer and a Roland Juno) to match Ayers's movements. [3]
In 2021 German entomologist Phillip Hoenle discovered a new species of ant, which he sent to Yale University taxonomic expert Douglas Booher. [8] After receiving the blessing of Stipe, Booher decided to name the ant Strumigenys ayersthey after Ayers. [5] The "they" in ayersthey refers to the singular they "in a celebration of gender diversity." [9] According to Booher, Ayers himself identified as a gay man; the "they" suffix was intended to honor both Ayers's LGBT activism and the non-binary community. [8]