What I did on my Summer Vacation!

This summer for the month of June I had the opportunity to intern with the mother of all art centric ASOs, Visual AIDS which can count among their many contributions to the AIDS movement the creation of the Red Ribbon. Currently guided by the wise, witty and pretty Amy Sadao and Nelson Santos the office is a welcoming home for creative and hardworking types committed to art as an opportunity for change. While there I had the opportunity to meet a plethora of artists, curators and handsome men all coming in to exercise their passion for art, HIV/AIDS, Nelson or all three!

Also home of the Frank Moore Archive Project Visual AIDS is the keeper of the world’s largest archive of artwork created by HIV+ artists from around the globe- (including a few but not enough Canadians). Work from the archive can be seen through monthly web gallery installments that are available to view at visualaids.org. Curated by notable minds from the HIV / AIDS community the work puts into visuals historical, artistic and cultural conversations about HIV / AIDS and the world it exists in.

Employing art to keep the conversations going Visual AIDS is also the starting point of some of the most innovative and evocative uses of art in response to HIV/AIDS. Through their ongoing Broadsides project, a term taken from across the pond to mean ‘strongly worded or spoken public announcement meant for public consumption’ they provide at no charge artist created AIDS Awareness and HIV Prevention messages. Often in postcard or poster form the broadsides are now beginning to be created in other mediums. The current cycle of broadsides include a balloon designed by Michael Mitchell that has on it an illustrated erect penis wearing a condom with the caption ‘Rubbers are Fun’.

It is this mix of humor, creativity, frankness and dedication that makes Visual AIDS such an important organization in the collective response to HIV. As many people will know art has always played an important role in HIV prevention and AIDS Awareness. From the early work of Gran Fury and Canada’s own General Idea to the empowering Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to the contribution of mainstream artists like Madonna, Jonathan Demmee, and Bono art keeps awareness alive and prevention information circulating.

While I was in New York I had the chance to be apart of the tradition. In my role as Intern, aside from ordering the wrong air conditioner thus making the small warm office smaller and so warmer I also had an opportunity to distribute some of the new broadsides including the ‘Rubbers” balloon and ‘Safe Sex Rules’ pins created by Noah Lyon. My journey took me to many places in New York including the offices of Fierce- an awesome grassroots organization that works to ‘build the leadership and power of LGBTQ youth of color’, and the CallenLorde Health Clinic that is New York City’s only health care centre for the LGBT community and people living with HIV/AIDS ‘regardless of any patient’s ability to pay’. Being even in small contact with these groups while representing the obviously loved Visual AIDS was a grounding experience that reminded me that even in a big city with more resources along with a greater amount of queer and HIV + political capital there are still monumental struggles combined with small mercies being performed that add up to miracles when looked at from a distance.

On my last day of active duty at Visual AIDS I along with 2 other interns took to the streets of Chelsea with balloons, pins and condoms in hand and distributed them to the local porn shops, bars, stores and random, willing excited people on the street. Along the way we learned a few thing- gay porn shops seemed to be owned by straight immigrant men, young men regardless of sexual orientation will never refuse free condoms and the axis of art, activism and AIDS is alive and well!

Please visit the Visual AIDS website to view the web galleries, see the broadsides and learn more about Visual AIDS, www.visualaids.org.

If you are in New York please visit Visual AIDS current exhibit Side X Side curated by Dean Daderko at La MaMa La Galleria.

Thank-You Amy and Nelson for welcoming me into the Visual AIDS existence. Has Michael Stipe called back yet?

Websites to visit:
www.visualaids.org
www.fiercenyc.org
www.callen-lorde.org