THE JEROME PROJECT -  preserving Jerome Caja's artistic legacy
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JEROME SUNNY-SIDE UP: A Tasteful Family Celebration

The LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland and The Jerome Project team up to bring you a tasteful celebration honoring the creative brilliance of the late Jerome Caja — JEROME SUNNY-SIDE UP. This is an evening of fun, food and...
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by Anthony Cianciolo

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TRANS + JEROME: An Evening of Mischief & Insight

​​TRANS + JEROME: Evening of Mischief and Insight: The LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland teams up with The Jerome Project to bring you TRANS + JEROME: An Evening of Mischief and Insight. This is a community event in tandem with the Jerome...
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by Anthony Cianciolo

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New Exhibition in Cleveland: "JEROME'S HOME"

JEROME’S HOME: A Show of Motherly Love: This is a new exhibition on display at the Greater Cleveland LGBT Community Center. ​Most of this artwork comes from the private collection of Bernardine Caja and the late John Caja (Jerome’s parents)...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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​AN UPDATE ON ALL THINGS JEROME

Dear Jerome Lovers: Thank you all for your patience, especially over the last few years when we hunkered down behind closed doors during the worst of COVID. I have been really productive during this time. Not only have I been working...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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JEROME in Los Angeles

I am pleased to announce that Jerome Caja is included in the new Blum & Poe exhibition — "Pictures Girls Make": Portraitures. It is curated by Alison M. Gingeras and is on display from September 9 to October 21, 2023 in Culver City...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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JEROME in Manhattan

If you are in the NYC area from May 11th to June 24th, be sure to see the new summer exhibition by Visual AIDS —“NO BIOS”. It is a group art show curated by Isis Awad with drawings, paintings, sculptures, and video from three generations of...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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My Date with Joan Jett Blakk — by Jo Owens

“People Who Are Proud Of Who They Are Challenge The Rest Of Us To Be Greater.” —​ Helen Owens, hair, makeup and wardrobe specialist for “Jerome and Joan.” PRIDE has special meaning for me this year. Alongside my sister Helen Owens, I'm...

by Jo Owens

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JEROME & JOAN: Late Night With Joan Jett Blakk

Anglim/Trimble Gallery presents a live talk show hosted by the legendary, award-winning drag queen Joan Jett Blakk. In honor of 2021 Pride and the new exhibition FOUND: The Lost Art of Jerome Caja, Jerome’s infamous drag performances...​

by Anthony Cianciolo

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JEROME CAJA: Toasters, Vaginas & Eggs

​On May 1st, my new exhibition FOUND: The Lost Art of Jerome Caja had a soft opening at ANGLIM/TRIMBLE gallery. It was part of what’s called “First Saturday,” a monthly San Francisco gallery-crawl at Minnesota Street Project. The show is...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Exhibition "FOUND: The Lost Art of Jerome Caja"

This is a jewel-box exhibition of paintings, photos, and reliquaries rarely seen since Jerome’s death in 1995. These “Little Lovelies” (a term coined by Jerome himself) are exquisite miniatures painted with everything you would find in a drag queen's...

​​​by Anthony Cianciolo

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New Jerome Film Shoot on Sunday, June 28th

​​FILMING: “People’s March & Rally” and “Pride is a Protest” Jerome Poster
San Francisco’s Gay Pride parade was cancelled this year because of COVID-19. In its wake, and on the exact same day, two marches are appropriately taking...
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​by Anthony Cianciolo

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Jerome & Victory for LGBTQ+ Rights

It Is Moments Like This That Make Me Miss Jerome 
Today I woke up and read the top news story of the day — “Civil Rights Law Protects L.G.B.T. Workers, Supreme Court Rules” in the New York Times...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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PRIDE IS A PROTEST: Jerome Poster

Jerome Caja is Honored and Remembered for His Resistance and Rebellion in SF
Check out Win Mixter’s new “JEROME CAJA: Pride is a Protest” poster on the Muni bus shelter at the northeast corner of 7th & Market in San Francisco's...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Ric Warren’s “Venus with a Penis”

​​Preserving, Protecting and Promoting Jerome Caja’s Artistic Legacy
This is at the core of our mission here at The Jerome Project. The removal of Ric Warren’s Jerome video from YouTube underscores the importance of our goal...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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THE JEROME PROJECT: Lewis Walden Vinyl Drive

ATTENTION: Jerome Caja Lovers, DJ Lovers, Vinyl Lovers & most importantly Lewis Walden Lovers — As many of you have heard, our friend Lewis recently lost his entire record collection (5000+ albums). This music was integral to...

Post by Anthony Cianciolo, Derek Boyle, Don Baird & Stevyn Polk

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​SFMOMA: A Celebration of Jerome Caja

On this special evening, SFMOMA partners with Visual AIDS to honor collection artist Jerome Caja (1958–1995). Join artists Justin Vivian Bond and Cliff Hengst, as well as Anthony Cianciolo, founder of The Jerome Project, for a conversation...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Candystore’s Blue Devil & Blond Venus

Several months back Nayland Blake put me in contact with Jarett Earnest, who was looking to secure permission to use Jerome’s painting The Ascension of the Fruit Bowl on the cover of a new chapbook titled Hi Angels. The book is a...

​by Anthony Cianciolo

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Candystore’s New Book Includes Jerome’s Art

Candystore & Jerome at the 2019 New York Art Book Fair
If you are in New York this week, check out the New York Art Book Fair at MOMA PS1. Candystore will be there to promote her new book with Jerome’s art and...
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​by Anthony Cianciolo

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New Jerome Show at Sonoma State University

The Sonoma State University Library is showing Queeries: Queer Artists & Identity from August 19 to December 13, 2019. The multimedia exhibit commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising and the following decades of LGBTQ+...

​by Anthony Cianciolo

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New Jerome Show in Chicago at Wrightwood 659

ABOUT FACE: Stonewall, Revolt and New Queer Art is the latest exhibition to include Jerome Caja’s work. This is one of the largest group showings of queer artwork in North America and naturally a perfect place to introduce Jerome to...
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by Anthony Cianciolo

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SFMOMA Acquires Jerome’s Shroud of Buddha

The Shroud of Buddha (1992) is the first addition to Jerome Caja’s other artworks in the SFMOMA collection since the the artist’s death in 1995. Jerome faced his own mortality from AIDS by tailoring three life-sized shrouds: The Shroud of Bozo...

by Jeff Parker & Craig Corpora 

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New Jerome Book & Panel Discussion

DUETS: Nayland Blake & Justin Vivian Bond in Conversation on Jerome Caja
Come celebrate Jerome at the New York Art Book Fair on Saturday September 22nd at MoMA PS1. There will be a panel discussion from 3:00-4:00 PM between...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Group Art Show — Objects of Mutual Affection

Jerome at Royal Nonesuch Gallery in Oakland
​Matt Sussman kindly invited me to speak about Jerome Caja on a panel that he organized titled Real Fictional Depth. This is in conjunction with the current...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Jerome Caja & the Bubble Lounges Panel

Thank you all for coming out and participating in the vibrant panel discussion!
It was a full house with many familiar faces from the club scene and the art world. The panel used Jerome as a launching point for a public conversation about a misfit...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Rocking Out With Jerome’s Mother Bernardine!

A big thank you to everyone who helped with the  celebration & film shoot!
Monday night’s gathering at the SFAC Gallery was really something special. It was a magical night filled with many familiar faces from Jerome’s old SF stomping...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Celebration with Jerome's Mother at the SFAC

MEET JEROME’S MOTHER -- Save the date (Monday July 31st) and come celebrate with us! Together, let’s all lift a glass in honor of our beloved Jerome and make a toast to his mother, Bernardine Caja. She is coming here from Cleveland, Ohio to see her...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Jerome in TINY BUBBLES Group Art Exhibition

​San Francisco Arts Commission Includes Jerome’s Paintings
Come and check out the new San Francisco Arts Commission exhibition, TINY BUBBLES. This is the newest show to include Jerome Caja’s work, which opens on...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Jerome Caja in “The Queer Heroes Coloring Book”

Check out this playful new addition to the Jerome Caja Repository
Stacked Deck Press just released “The Queer Heroes Coloring Book,” and Jerome Caja is one of the many iconic figures featured (Oscar Wilde, Frida Kahlo, Grace...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Jerome in the Art AIDS America Exhibition

Today, December 1, 2016, is World AIDS Day, and it is also the opening of the Art AIDS America Chicago Exhibition. This show has now been traveling across the US...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Jerome Caja Paintings in the SFMOMA Collection

SFMOMA Makes Jerome Caja’s Art Available Online
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) has published online images of Jerome Caja's works in its collection. These pieces include several types of the...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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In Memory of Jerome Caja on November 3, 2016

It has been 21 years to the day that Jerome Caja died. God, I miss him.
Here’s to you Jerome — You have been a source of inspiration from the time I first laid eyes on you. I’ll never forget that moment. It was at Club Uranus on a Sunday...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Brilliant New Essay Featuring Jerome Caja

Thank you Glen Helfand!
I just want to give a special thank you to Glen for writing the insightful essay " Art AIDS SF: Tales of the City " that is published in the catalog for the "Art AIDS...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Jerome in "Art AIDS America" Group Exhibition

Tacoma Art Museum (TAM) takes the risk that most museums won't.
Rock Hushka (Co-curator of Art AIDS America), Stephanie Stebich (Executive Director of TAM), and Jonathan David Katz (Co-curator of Art AIDS America) prove...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Jerome Caja's Art Travels Across the US

Powerful new group exhibition: "Art AIDS America"
​Last year I was contacted by Jonathan David Katz and Rock Hushka, the curators of the "Art AIDS America" exhibition. They were having a terrible time trying...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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The Jerome Project Advisory Board

Distinguished panel of advisors helps guide The Jerome Project.
I am so proud to announce our advisory board and their unique relationship to Jerome and The Jerome Project. Large art history projects like ours rely heavily on...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Original Jerome Caja Painting Added to Auction

Anglim Gilbert Gallery donates "Little Black Portrait" from Jerome's estate.
Now is your chance! If you ever wanted to own an original painting by Jerome Caja and support one of San Francisco's great independent arts organizations, then...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Framing Jerome Caja for Auction

Thank you Sabrina at City Picture Frame in San Francisco!
We just put together the very first production run of Anna van der Meulen's 35mm color slide prints of Jerome in Cleveland. It is titled Triptych from the "3304 Street...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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The Jerome Project Receives Another Residency

The San Francisco Film Society (SFFS) Continues to Support Jerome Caja!
Check out the recently published online Indiewire Exclusive (SF Film Society Awards Residencies to New Filmmakers) announcing the new FilmHouse awards. The...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Jerome Performing at Club Chaos & Club Uranus

Lewis Walden & Michael Blue set the stage for Jerome Caja!
During the late 80's and early 90's, Lewis and Michael were the hottest San Francisco DJ's and club promoters (Crystal Pistol & The EndUp). They were the...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Jerome Caja in Poultry Drag

Thank you Les Hanson and Jim James
This is a great color photo of Jerome prancing around in poultry drag at the 1990 Folsom Street Fair. I will add this marvelous gem to the digital catalogue...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Rena vs Jerome in High-Heeled Wrestling

Thank you Mark Bowes & Michael Johnstone
Here is a fabulous slice of San Francisco queer counterculture history at its finest -- American High Heeled Wrestling between Rena McDonald (Adam Klein) and...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Charles Devouring Himself by Jerome Caja

An Homage to Francisco Goya & Charles Sexton
In order to fully appreciate this piece, context is needed between Jerome Caja and Charles Sexton. In the late 80's they studied art together at the San Francisco Art...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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StarLab Chinese Movie Studio Seeks Out Jerome

Thank you Summer Jiang at StarLab China
The StarLab Movie Studio from Guangzhou, China, just interviewed me for two hours about my documentary film, Jerome Caja, and his art. Summer Jiang...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Jerome Caja, Miss Kitty & Arturo Galster

Barbara Liu McDowell -- "3 Queens who inspire me to make the most out of life!"
Thank you Barbara for all the lovely gifts you have given to The Jerome Project. This fabulous picture is being documented and preserved in the Jerome Caja...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Jerome Caja Triptych by Anna van der Meulen

Triptych from the "3304 St. Clair Series" - by Anna van der Meulen
laser ink-jet prints on aluminum with a high gloss finish
Spring 1988, 6in x 4in (each)

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Thank You Christopher!

My Dear Friend of 25 Years Supports Jerome and the Arts
Two weeks ago, out of the blue, I received a generous financial donation to The Jerome Project from one of my oldest San Francisco friends, Christopher. We...


by Anthony Cianciolo

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BAVC's Preservation Blog on Jerome Caja

Lauren O'Connor's Thoughts on Preserving Jerome Caja
Check out this wonderful Jerome post by Lauren on Tumblr (Bay Area Video Coalition Preservation Department -- January 27, 2015). She is a great...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Jerome Caja in SF Cinematheque Art Auction

The Jerome Project Collaborates with the San Francisco Cinematheque
Jerome is going to be in a new group show! This is the fifth annual art auction and benefit celebrating San Francisco Cinematheque. The Jerome Project is...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Ric Warren Captures Jerome Caja's Spirit

Photographing Beauty in San Francisco
Ric Warren has a fabulous collection of Jerome photographs that he kindly shared with all of us online at the Jerome Caja Shrine on FaceBook. The...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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16 Terabytes of Jerome Caja Video

The Beginnings of my Documentary Film on Jerome
Big thanks to the Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC) for awarding The Jerome Project the Preservation Access Program grant! Thank you Scott England...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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West Hollywood Group Exhibition with Jerome

"Art/AIDS/America" directed & co-curated by Dr. Jonathan D. Katz
"Art/AIDS/America examines 30 years of artistic production made in response to the AIDS epidemic in the United States." -- This show is presented in two parts...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Making an Art-Driven Film on Jerome Caja

Visual Storytelling by Bruce Block
A big thanks to veteran filmmaker Bruce Block for his three-day "Visual Storytelling" class at Lucas Film in the Presidio. It was insightful and helpful for...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Thank You Daniel Nicoletta!

Piecing Together Jerome's Life Story
I just want to give a huge thanks to Daniel Nicoletta for all his help this past year putting me in contact with key people in Jerome's life. Daniel has been...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Beautiful Jerome Caja Shrine on Facebook

Honoring the Late & Great Jerome Caja Online
Check out this lovely Facebook memorial page (Jerome Caja Shrine) dedicated to Jerome and his work. This public group forum was constructed years ago by...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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VERASPHERE Supports Jerome Caja

The Most Outrageous Drag Troupe
My friends Michael Johnstone and David Faulk are the brilliant creators of the San Francisco drag troupe called Verasphere. One of the best ways to...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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BIG THANKS to the Cajas!

Breaking Bread with Loretta & Richard Caja
This was the first time meeting Jerome's brother and sister-in-law. Carl and I were in stitches laughing from the numerous Cleveland -- Jerome stories...

​​by Anthony Cianciolo

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Reel in the Closet Doc Is a Benchmark Film

Beautiful Work by Stu Maddux
Keep your eyes out for the new documentary by Stu Maddux, Reel in the Closet. I just saw it screen at San Francisco's Frameline film festival. It is lovely! The film...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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The Great Queen of Provocative Filth

Meeting my Childhood Idol John Waters
Making a movie is one of the most challenging things I have ever set out to do. Whenever I get frustrated or feel lost in the process of making my documentary...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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In Loving Memory of Paule Anglim

Jerome Caja's Gallerist in San Francisco
Paule Anglim loved Jerome and was one of his biggest supporters. She was the first in the contemporary art world to recognize his importance outside the...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Made in the Mission Studios Showcases Jerome

Public Presentation of The Jerome Project
Come celebrate "Made in the Mission - Spring Open Studios" at Army Lofts! I will be presenting The Jerome Project alongside a whole bunch of other FABULOUS...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Jerome Caja at the Sebastopol Doc Film Festival

The D-Word & Docs in Progress Peer Pitch
I want to give a big shout out and thank you Jason Perdue (director of the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival) and Erica Ginsberg (executive director...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Reception & Memorial for Rex Ray

Come Celebrate the Memory of Rex Ray
A memorial in honor of Rex Ray’s passing on February 9th will take place at Gallery 16 on Thursday, March 12th. This event is open to the public, and Rex’s...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Jerome Caja Exhibition & Launch Party

Celebrate the Launch of The Jerome Project & New Exhibition
This exhibition will feature Caja's mixed-media paintings that he created with everything that you would find in a drag queen's handbag: nail polish, glitter...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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The Jerome Project at Bay Area Video Coalition

Come Join in the Conversation about Queer Art
I will be presenting The Jerome Project at Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC) along side two of my local filmmaking peers (Lil Miss Hot Mess and Cheryl Dunye)...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Jerome Caja at the Smithsonian Archives

Thank You Paul Karlstrom
Prior to committing making a documentary film on Jerome Caja, I knew the success of my film hinged on the art world backing it. I spent two years...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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SFAI Group Exhibition Featuring Jerome Caja

En((gender))ing Performance: A Call and Response
It's a full day of events (group art shows, performances, film screenings, and round-table discussions) that reawaken the radical legacy of the San Francisco...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Thank You Ling Meng!

Collaboration & Curation
Several months back, Ling Meng (MA student at the San Francisco Art Institute), contacted me when I was a San Francisco Film Society FilmHouse resident to...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Belgian Government Supports Jerome Caja

Thank You Alicia Hernandez-Dispaux
One day when I was volunteering at the San Francisco International FIlm Festival, I met Alicia Hernandez-Dispaux. She and I were cleaning up after a FilmHouse...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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San Francisco Film Society Supports Jerome

Thank You For Supporting The Jerome Project
Michele Turnure-Salleo (director of Filmmaker Services at the SFFS) was the first person to whom I pitched my documentary film. I was testing the waters and...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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Proud of my "Mistake on the Lake" roots!

Cleveland Born & Bred
Like Jerome, I was an overly sensitive queer kid who grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and ventured out to California to explore my artistic dreams. Ohio...

by Anthony Cianciolo

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For the Love of Jerome Caja & His Art

Welcome and Thank You for Visiting The Jerome Project!
This blog site is dedicated to documenting the evolution of The Jerome Project, highlighting its multifaceted components, and showcasing all the people who...

by Anthony Cianciolo

​​Top Banner: Detail from the painting "The Satanic Worm" by Jerome Caja, Scanned slide from the Estate of Jerome Caja


 © 2010-2025 The Jerome Project

Thank you to our Supporters!

  • The Estate of Jerome Caja
  • The Caja Family in Cleveland
  • Smithsonian Archives of American Art
  • National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
  • San Francisco Film Society (SFFS)
  • Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC)
  • San Francisco Film Commission
  • San Francisco Art Institute
  • Keneth Rainin Foundation
  • Gallery Paule Anglim
  • SFFS Filmmaker360
  • SFFS FilmHouse
  • Verasphere
  • Visual AID