Optic Nerve (1999)

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Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series chronology
Optic Nerve

Multimedia/Interactive Charity CD-ROM by Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series
Released	1999
Genre	Multimedia
Label	Red Hot Organization
Producer(s)	Red Hot Organization, Funny Garbage
Red Hot + Rhapsody: The Gershwin Groove (1998)	Optic Nerve (David Wojnarowicz) (1999)	Red Hot + Indigo (2001)

Optic Nerve is an interactive, CD-ROM showcasing the life and work of multimedia artist David Wojnarowicz. The disc includes film, interviews, music, performance, painting and writing from the artist. The release is the first entry in the Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series with a non-musical focus. Production was handled by the Red Hot Organization (RHO) and Funny Garbage, in conjunction with the New Museum of Contemporary Art exhibit entitled "Fever: The Art of David Wojnarowicz."

The disc also features an interactive version of ITSOFOMO — the series of public performances, featuring readings from Wojnarowicz's work, along with multiple video images which the artist either created or selected.

Optic Nerve was originally available from New York City's New Museum bookstore. At that time, four dollars received from the sale of each disc was donated to the Hetrick Martin Institute — an entity which had Wojnarowicz as a patron. The HMI is a leading professional provider of social support and programming for all at-risk youth, particularly lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning youth in the New York metropolitan area. The CD-ROM has since become available from the Red Hot Organization.