In June 2020, the Kinsey Institute lost a friend and benefactor, Dr. Arthur Myers.
Dr. Myers was a physician, and through his career learned that his medical skills were sometimes inadequate to fully heal people confronting emotional pain and suffering. He was also trained in fine art photography, and in his retirement from medical practice, he turned to art to pursue a dream of building up individuals in their darkest moments in life.
Dr. Myer’s photographic work documents the undeniable power of beauty, self-esteem, and human dignity. His subjects are the women who had survived breast cancer but now question their femininity, and the women who were diagnosed HIV positive and have to find courage to keep on living. Their hopes, desires, and strength become his inspiration, motivation and devotion. A work such as “Oceanography,” seen below, connects all of us to the vast universe through the gentleness of the female body.
We are honored to be the caretakers of a set of these images donated by Dr. Myers and his family three years ago to our permanent collection.
The Kinsey Institute wishes to express our deepest condolence to his wife, children, grandchildren, and to all of his friends. You can learn more about Dr. Myers life and work in his obituary, published in the San Diego Tribune: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/obituaries/story/2020-06-21/art-myers-obituary-photographer-doctor