Tuesday, December 1, 1998
Day of mourning
ART: A Day Without Art, an exhibit which commemorates World AIDS
Day,
brings a powerful message to the UCLA campus
By Terry Tang
Daily Bruin Contributor
It would be difficult for any Bruin to imagine lounging on a
grassy knoll in the treasured Murphy Sculpture Garden without the
sculptures.
Shrouding various statues in black tarps provides a dramatic
example of how the AIDS virus affects people through any
medium.
A Day Without Art, the art community’s contribution to World
AIDS Day, gives countless museums throughout the world a platform
to promote AIDS awareness. Surrounded by art galleries, UCLA will
not be left out of the celebration.
With the support of the Armand Hammer Museum, the Student
Committee for the Arts (SCA) will continue an annual tradition of
concealing as many sculptures as they have tarps.
"Art is an easy vehicle to let people know about HIV," says
Mitchell Kamrava, a third-year molecular cell and developmental
biology student and SCA coordinator in charge of the covering of
the Sculpture Garden. "It’s much easier for them to put up these
cloths, and it makes a bigger impact than just (talking about) HIV
by itself."
Aside from being covered, each hidden sculpture will sport a
flier explaining the premise behind a Day Without Art and the
occasion’s purpose of commemorate AIDS-related deaths, particularly
those in the artistic community.
Kamrava hopes that seeing the shrouded bronze and marble pieces
will captivate observers.
"First, it makes you go, ‘Why?’ Then you either think, ‘Oh, it’s
just another student group doing something kind of ridiculous and
out there,’ or ‘What’s the deal with this?’ So, if a student takes
the initiative and reads (the flier), then we hope it might invoke
awareness," Kamrava says.
Other museums in the Los Angeles area are also getting in on the
act. For instance, the Armand Hammer Museum will offer free
admission all day, as well as red ribbons and AIDS intervention
brochures at its membership counter.
"There is no special exhibition. The museum just wants to give
easy access," says Henry Hopkins, director of the Armand Hammer
Museum. "Certainly, there is a loss of revenue, but we feel it’s
worth it for this occasion."
The Getty Museum will commemorate Day Without Art by darkening
each of its eight galleries in one-hour increments. Educational
fliers which explain the significance of Dec. 1 and an AIDS
resource guide will also be available for patrons.
Although the Fowler Museum is not officially open Tuesday, the
education department will explain the purpose of Day Without Art to
all its tour groups, which usually consist of elementary and junior
high students.
"We want to introduce a Day Without Art to the students who may
have never heard of it or don’t understand it," says Kristen Quine,
coordinator of Fowler’s public programs.
According to Roger Bohman, professor in the molecular cell and
developmental biology department, anything that people do to
increase AIDS awareness should be welcomed.
"Even if it’s mostly a symbolic thing, it’s a whole lot better
than nothing," Bohman says. "Will it change the course of the
epidemic? Probably not. Will it make people more aware? I think the
answer is yes."
Day Without Art is just one aspect of World AIDS Day, which
emphasizes the global perspective of the impact of the virus.
Although Americans live in an age in which contraceptives are as
accessible as aspirin and there are medical treatments to combat
HIV, many other countries are typically cut off from education and
care.
"The death rate for AIDS in America decreased 55 percent last
year, which means there is great optimism," Bohman says. "But the
pessimistic part of me sees that the developing countries of the
world, the have-nots of the world, are always the people who never
reap the benefits of Western technology in society."
While preparing for the covering of the Sculpture Garden,
Kamrava was amazed at the extent of HIV infection throughout the
world.
"The statistic that I put on the flier is pretty astounding:
16,000 new HIV cases reported every day. What I think about most is
just the fact that it’s still a problem, but I don’t hear about
it," Kamrava says.
"We all know how to protect ourselves now, but clearly there are
people in other countries that are just not as well prepared."
Technological advances in America have prompted hope that the
AIDS epidemic diminishing. As a result, some Americans may end up
feeling increasingly apathetic toward AIDS awareness. Even Bohman
sees World AIDS Day becoming a quieter affair.
"In my opinion, there used to be a lot more going on. I can
remember two or three years ago, I was invited to a candlelight
vigil on North Campus to celebrate World AIDS Day. I haven’t been
invited to anything this year. So I just think it’s a thing that’s
diminishing."
Despite the absence of any campus vigils or marches, the Day
Without Art project gives people who have never encountered HIV or
AIDS in their lives a connection to the disease. Art, like film,
television or music, is a medium that anybody can experience.
"There are a lot of artists who pass away from AIDS. And just
because you’re not a personal friend of theirs, it doesn’t mean
that you haven’t been affected by them," Kamrava says.
"You’re still affected by people that are HIV-positive, but it
might not be your mom or your friend. I think this can be
demonstrated just by asking (yourself) ‘Wow, if this sculpture
weren’t here, would my world be any different?’ Maybe it wouldn’t,
but I think for a lot of people, if the sculptures weren’t here, it
would be a little different for them."
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