ABSENCE
Queens Museum of Art: Partnership Gallery
December 2 - 19, 2010
Opening Reception: Thursday, December 2, 5:00 - 8:00 pm.
Closing Event: Sunday, December 19, 5:00 - 7:00 pm.
The art exhibition, ABSENCE, features the works of twenty three artists who were selected based on this year’s open call inspiration theme ‘indifference and invisibility’ to reflect on the present lack of activism and public awareness about HIV / AIDS. The exhibition includes the participation of artists who worked directly with curator, artist, Hector Canonge, in the creation of new works that challenged their regular practice and production methods to meet the challenges of the project. ABSENCE promises to leave a mark on audiences visiting the gallery of the museum, and as the organizer explains, “visitors will be challenged not just to walk by the works of art, but to seriously think and reflect on what they can, might, cannot or might not see, hear or touch.”
Participating Artists (Alphabetical order):
Desireena Almoradie, Alta Berri, Eve Biddle, Kenneth Burris, Melissa Calderon, Helen Dennis, Felipe Galindo, Juan Hinojosa, Katarina Jerinic, Soo Im Lee, Kathleen Mallaney, Norma Marquez Orozco, Jason Mitcham, Antonio Ortuño, J Carlos Pinto, Risa Puno, Ryan Roa, Patricio Robayo, Zefrey Throwell, Alison Ward, Genevieve White, Plamen Yordanov, and Bowie Zunino.
Film Screnings: AIDS in CINEMA
Queens Library: Jackson Heights Library
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Double feature presentation of films that best reflect the history of the AIDS pandemic and the personal stories behind it.
Sex in an Epidemic
Dir. Jean Carlomusto, USA, 2009, 70 min.
A poignant documentary that explores the safer sex movement in the United States, with a clear and vivid history of the epidemic and the community’s response to halt the spread of the misunderstood disease. Through interviews with many of the leaders who championed safer sex, the film is a profound look at the mobilization that started the ongoing effort to save lives. Sex in an Epidemic is presented by OUTCAST FILMS.
Tied Hands
Dir. Dan Wolman, Israel, 2006, 90 min.
A compelling film tells the story of a sensitive and complex relationship between a mother and her ailing son. In her, turbulent, journey in the streets of Tel-Aviv, old truths from her past come back to life and threaten to break down a wall of denials behind which, she's been hiding all her life.
QMAD, Queens Media Arts Development, is a non-for profit cultural organization co-founded and presently under the direction of New -media artist, Hector Canonge. QMAD produces and implements programs in the arts communications media to encourage Queen’s multicultural communities to actively participate in the forging of an artistic identity for the borough. Based on one of the city’s most diverse areas, QMAD acknowledges the artistic potential of residents in Queens, and facilitates access to educational activities, cultural events and resources so people participating in the various programs can gain agency in their creative and artistic goals. All QMAD’s programs are FREE OF CHARGE and of benefit to underserved populations of the borough.
As part of World AIDS Awareness, QMAD created and produces FRAMING AIDS since 2005. The program is intended to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS affecting the communities of Queens, and NYC at large. Hosted by institutions like Queens Library, Elmhurst Hospital Center, La Guardia Performing Arts Center at La Guardia Community College, The Queens Museum, and in partnership with local organizations like AIDS Center of Queens County, ACQC, MetroPlus, APICHA and other non for profits like Scenarios USA, and VISUAL AIDS. FRAMING AIDS is Queen’s Annual Observance of World AIDS Day Through the Arts.
For more info visit Framing AIDS
Social Change Initiatives