Newest Works from Botswana

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Tomorrow, April 25, 2014, we will be exhibiting at UNIFOR's Ontario Regional Council meeting in Port Elgin, Ontario.  Art for AIDS International is excited to show off some of the very best works produced from our most recent workshops held at high schools and universities in South Africa and Botswana in February and March of this year.

Art for AIDS International is very happy to be associated with UNIFOR.  Many thanks to them for the opportunity to be a part of this event.


Soweto Update brings the real world home

The following post was written by Madeline Marmor, student intern at Art for AIDS International.

This weekend, Henrikus Bervoets, our Founder and Executive Director, received a sobering email call from Soweto from a dear friend.

The friend was a scholarship student who Art for AIDS International has had an ongoing relationship with. As a former workshop participant, our friend had become a scholarship student in hopes of attending university. Although she was unable to attend University for numerous reasons, she was still able to upgrade her education using Art for AIDS International funding.

A passionate youthful personality, our friend created numerous pieces in workshops with Hendrikus, later becoming a volunteer for the charity on future trips to Soweto. Among the six pieces she created, two are on the Apartheid Museum poster in our London gallery.

The phone call shared the sad news that our friend's brother has committed suicide after finding out he was HIV positive last Saturday. He had not told anyone about the result, taking his own life alone with this information.

This tragedy speaks to the social stigma HIV and AIDS still has in Africa with those diagnosed feeling burdened by the shame of being sick. This psyche needs to be combated with the knowledge that there is always someone who cares and that there is always someone to talk to.

The more workshops we do, the better chances are for this to happen less. If this person was part of a workshop, we could have fostered the confidence and self-respect to be able to talk to someone.

We at Art for AIDS International believe workshops can actually save people’s lives.  In fact, we have seen it. Her brother’s death is motivation for us to keep putting effort towards organizing workshops, knowing the benefit they will bring.

One step forward in this will be our  ‘Train the Trainers’ program.  These are newly formed workshops, where Art for AIDS International will train young, unemployed university graduates in parts of Africa where we have already held workshops to run our programs under the auspices of our organization, independent of London’s actual presence. In this way, soon we will be able to organize workshops in the hundreds rather than in the twenty’s.

Our friend’s email not only relayed this sad news but it also acted as a renewed call to action for all of us at Art for AIDS International to keep working towards helping women and children affected by HIV and AIDS.

 


Elton John

The following post was written by Madeline Marmor, student intern at Art for AIDS International.

On February 3rd, Arts for Aids International was part of welcoming Sir Elton John to Budweiser Garden Arena for his sold out concert.  

Art for Aids International had the honour of selecting two piece art to offer the musician in recognition of the role he, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), have played in the global fight against HIV and AIDS.

EJAF works on the international level to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS through innovative HIV prevention programs, efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS, and direct treatment, care, and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS. Along with sharing similar missions, both Arts for Aids International and EJAF work on the grassroots level with those affected by HIV and AIDS through workshops and community-based programming and events.

Sponsors for the donated works of art included Joe Fontana, Mayor of London; John Winston, Tourism London; EllisDon and Budweiser Gardens.  

The first print was of Nelson Mandela entitled ‘What If’, by South African artist Jonathan Comerford and is part our international portfolio (contact us for purchase). The second print was of a collage created by Lester B. Pearson student Breanna Nkiwani, and is part of our student portfolio.

Together with Global Spectrum, Live Nation Canada, and Don Donner the pieces were given to Sir John. We were told that Sir John really liked the artwork selected.

We would like to thank all those involved for this lovely partnership.

 


From the Grand Opening of the New Art for AIDS International Gallery [PHOTOS]

Guests view our new rotating exhibit in the One London Place Mezzanine

Art for AIDS has a new home! Recently, we were proud to officially open our new Head Office and Gallery in One London Place, London Ontario. To celebrate we hosted an open house and welcomed members of the community to pay us a visit and to see some of the stunning artwork produced by young people from around the world in its new setting.

The event was generously sponsored by architects Tillmann Ruth Robinson, Sifton Properties, Moffatt & Powell RONA, the Canadian Auto Workers union (CAW), and Andy Spriet. We would also like to thank our food and beverage sponsors, Ponte Wine and Spirits, Steam Whistle Brewing, and Fare Catering for providing food and beverages for the event.

If you weren't able to join us in London for our grand opening, here are a few photographs courtesy of Dave Chidley from the event. For upcoming events, you can also visit our Events and Exhibits page.

Art for AIDS Grand Opening Photos


View more photos from our new Gallery in Art for AIDS International has a New Home.


Event Sponsors

We would like to recognize and thank the following organizations and individuals for their support in sponsoring our Grand Opening celebration.

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Photos courtesy of Dave Chidley


An Evening At Toronto's Ritz-Carlton for Art for AIDS

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Recently, we were proud to host "An Evening At the Ritz", an exhibit and fundraiser at Toronto's Residence at the Ritz-Carlton. The event featured a new collection of artwork made by young people from across Canada and Tanzania exhibited in the Ritz's beautiful Sky Lobby alongside black and white photography by award-winning photojournalist Dave Chidley, taken during recent Art for AIDS International workshops in Tanzania.

The event was generously sponsored by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA) and the Canadian Auto Workers union (CAW). We'd like to thank both organizations for their ongoing support and leadership in the community. We would also like to thank our food and beverage sponsors, Ponte Wine and Spirits, Steam Whistle Brewing, and Fare Catering for providing food and beverages for the event, which were enjoyed by over 100 visitors throughout the evening.

Finally, the event would not have been a success without each of our guests who came to learn more about the impact that HIV and AIDS is having in our community and in communities across Africa, and about the work that Art for AIDS International is doing to help stop the spread of HIV through art and education. As a result of your support and enthusiasm, the event raised over $10,000. These funds will help us continue to engage young people across Canada and abroad in our educational workshops, and will benefit directly our partner organizations in Africa, who provide care and support services to women and children affected by HIV and AIDS in their communities.

If you weren't able to join us in Toronto, here are a few of the photos taken by Dave Chidley during the event.


Event Sponsors

About OETCA

OECTA is a teachers’ association that represents 45,000 professional women and men who teach all grades in publicly funded English Catholic schools in Ontario. Through support from OECTA, Art for AIDS International has brought important educational programming to young people from across Ontario and to school communities in East Africa.

About CAW

The Canadian Auto Workers union is one of the largest private sector unions in the country with approximately 193,000 members from coast to coast to coast. CAW has been a close friend and partner of Art for AIDS International since we began working with Canadian youth to raise awareness about the impact of HIV and AIDS in their own community and in communities around the world.


To learn more about upcoming Art for AIDS International events in your community, visit our Events and Exhibits page. You can also contact us if you'd like to learn more about hosting an event or exhibit in your community.


Welcome To The New Art For AIDS International Website

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Dear Friends,

I am excited to welcome you to the new, mobile-friendly, Art for AIDS International website. Over the last few weeks, our volunteers have worked hard to find new ways to share our story with all of you online, along with some of the incredible works of art made by young people during Art for AIDS workshops. In addition to creating more space to share our photographs and blog posts, we've made it easier than ever to browse, share, and purchase Art for AIDS artwork - all in support of programmes that benefit women and children affected by HIV and AIDS in some of the communities most affected by the epidemic.

[box type="alert" icon="none"]In recognition of our new website, we're offering free shipping on our prints throughout the month of May. Type "NEWSITE" in the "Apply Coupon" field of your shopping cart before you checkout.[/box]

We'll be adding more new prints to our online Gallery and Shop and some exciting features that are still in the works. If you have any suggestions for other new features or information you'd like to see on our site, please don't hesitate to contact us.

I would like to offer my thanks and appreciation to our visitors for taking the time to learn more about what we are doing to engage young people in the global response to AIDS though education and the arts.

Sincerely,

Hendrikus Bervoets
Executive Director
Art for AIDS International

Photo Courtesy of Dave Chidley


A Response to a TED Talk by Kristen Ashburn


The following post was written by Marie-France Roche, student intern at Art for AIDS International.


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“When I first arrived in beautiful Zimbabwe, it was difficult to understand that 35 percent of the population is HIV positive. It really wasn’t until I was invited to the homes of people that I started to understand the human toll of the epidemic.”-Kristen Ashburn

In this inspiring TED talk, Kristen Ashburn, a talented documentary photographer, shares her experiences of her visit to Zimbabwe. Ashburn met and photographed several people affected by the HIV and AIDS, many of whom had little hope of survival. Her most devastating photographs depict young people affected by AIDS. One boy, named Herbert, is pictured with his grandmother, so frail that he is hardly able to hold himself up. Herbert lost both his parents to AIDS, and eventually lost his own life to the disease. Ashburn’s photographs capture the too-often traumatizing reality of AIDS in the most heavily affected region of the world.

At Art for AIDS International, students participating in workshops translate their insights into the production of unique collage artwork. Although these pieces do not always directly reflect the effects of the AIDS epidemic, they inspire students to engage in the cause by responding to what they've learned in the workshop. Ashburn’s work brings individuals closer with those facing adversity. Our workshops do not only create awareness about the prominence of  AIDS in Africa, but also bring the students closer to the cause through participatory involvement in producing this artwork.

Art can serve as a powerful medium to depict the effects of AIDS, and to engage young people in an important cause. At Art for AIDS International, our work is directly connected to passionate individuals who are involved in AIDS prevention and awareness, and can act as an agent of change by connecting people around the world to the organization.

You can see more of Ashburn’s work here.


Art for AIDS International has a New Home

A view from the outside of One London Place.

In 2009, Art for AIDS International opened the doors of its first public gallery and Head Office, in the lower level of a Dundas Street building in London, Ontario's downtown core. It was a space that for four years saw many exciting events and exhibits, hosted thousands of members from the local and international community, and held inventory for international exhibits and AIDS awareness campaigns hosted at the Apartheid Museum, UN Agencies like the World Food Programme and IFAD, and countless galleries, universities, colleges, and secondary schools. Most importantly, with our growing team of volunteers, it was the space where we planned workshops that reached over 10,000 young people in 13 countries with important information about health and community involvement.

Since 2009, we've worked to grow our reach, and our team of volunteers has grown with it. While our gallery and office at 242 Dundas Street was for many people home, we decided in late 2012 that it was one we had outgrown; and so the search began. Thankfully, with tremendous support from our board and members of the local community, the search was a short one and by December 2012, we had found and moved into our beautiful, spacious new location, just around the corner, in One London Place.

Today, we're happy to share some of the first photos from our new space with you. We would also like to thank all of our volunteers, our board, and the fantastic staff at One London Place and Sifton for their hard work and support in helping us prepare the space, set it up, and get settled.


New Gallery Photos

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Our new HQ and Gallery is located at One London Place, 255 Queens Ave, Suite 250 in London, Ontario. Please come by to visit. We have public viewing hours from 11 AM - 5 PM Tuesday to Friday, or by appointment.


Some Thoughts on We Were Here


The following post was written by Marie-France Roche, student intern at Art for AIDS International.


We-Were-Here-editedI recently watched the film We Were Here, a 2011 documentary directed by David Weissman. The film explores the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco in the early eighties. Weissman's piece follows five individuals affected by the AIDS. To me, the most powerful testimony was one by an artist named Daniel Goldstein. He struggled with AIDS throughout his life, losing two of his beloved partners to the disease. He founded Under One Roof, a gift shop where all profits go to educational, medical and support services. In the film, Goldstein explains that volunteers at the shop would often be AIDS patients, and come in once a week to volunteer. Their work at the gift shop, as Goldstein explains, served as the patients’ social life.

Goldstein's initiative reminded me of what we do at Art for AIDS International: Individuals can bond over artwork, and  share their stories and experiences with AIDS. At our workshops or in our gallery, there are always people who have dealt with AIDS to some degree, even if we are not aware of it. By creating a common place dedicated to creating art for a wonderful cause, we can also support those close to us who may have had difficult, life-changing experiences with AIDS.

Goldstein’s artwork has also been hugely successful. "Medicine Man II" is the second project by Goldstein for Make Art Stop AIDS. Using the medication bottles of South African individuals living with HIV, the sculpture also incorporates dozens of brightly colored, hand beaded spindles, created by the craftspeople of the UMCEBO Trust.

You can check out more of his art at: http://www.danielgoldsteinstudio.comand here is the trailer for We Were Here.



Reflections from South Africa


The following post was written by Art for AIDS Marketing and Communications Intern Robyn Bell.


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At Art for AIDS International, it is always our intention to have an impact on young people that extends far beyond our two-day workshops.  Last year and the year before, we travelled to South Africa to host workshops in Soweto, a township outside of Johannesburg.  At every workshop, we hope to educate about the impact of HIV, but also to build confidence for participating young people.  We seek to educate, inspire and motivate them.  Our hope is that after these workshops have ended students can continue to make a difference in their communities.

From our workshops in Soweto in 2012, we received overwhelmingly positive feedback.  It was wonderful to hear how confident each student felt after the workshop, and about their desires to continue with community involvement around HIV awareness after the workshop had ended.

Here are some of our favourite comments from participating students:

“This workshop was a blessing to me.  It taught us how to be determined to get what we want in life.  They taught us to love our community and to love ourselves, and to engage in the community.”

“What I found most valuable is that keeping something to yourself is not a good thing, you must learn to express it and that a collage can tell a really good story.”

“It taught us about what we never knew was real.  It encouraged us to realize that anything is possible.  It brings hope to those who never thought they could make it in life.”

“We were able to be open and we were given a chance to speak about anything we wanted to.”

“I really appreciated the help and idea that we got from Hendrikus.  We were made to recognize things we didn’t know we could do.”

“The workshop was brilliant, it took our minds off a lot of problems that we have as teenagers.  Participating in it was therapeutic and helped me to distress.”

“The workshop opened my eyes and made me realize that art is more like your daily routine, meaning that art is what you eat, sleep and walk.  It really made my day.”

“The workshop really taught me to believe in myself and not to think about what people say behind my back.  From today I will stand up for myself and achieve my goals as a young woman.”

To these students, we reciprocate the thank you, and say keep up the great work in your communities.