WITNESS

BFA Visual and Critical Studies presents “WITNESS” an exhibition by former and current members of the School of Visual Arts community—alumni, faculty, and staff—who have addressed or continue to address the impact of HIV/AIDS in their work, in their lives and in our shared history. It also includes work by four SVA colleagues who we lost to the virus, which in its early years was quickly called “The Plague.” To witness a plague is to be irrevocably changed, as we were recently again made aware. The statements and artworks presented are a reminder of our strength and our sorrow, of our fears, our loss, our anger, and our hope.

“WITNESS” is part of “TO LOVE—TO DIE; TO FIGHT. TO LIVE. Art and Activism in the Time of AIDS”—a series of lectures, screenings, and exhibitions at SVA from Thursday, March 20, through Saturday, April 5, that includes a display of quilt panels from the monumental NAMES PROJECT AIDS Memorial Quilt, as well as weekend AIDS quilt-making workshops led by artist Daniele Frazier, Saturday, March 29, through Sunday, March 30, at 133/141 West 21 Street, NYC.

The SVA Flatiron Project Space and SVA Flatiron Gallery are open Monday through Saturday 10:00am – 6:00pm; the galleries will also be open on Sunday, March 30, for the AIDS Quilt Workshop. “WITNESS” is curated by BFA Visual and Critical Studies faculty member Peter Hristoff. A fully illustrated catalog of the exhibition will be made available to the public.

For further information on the exhibition please contact phristoff@sva.edu. For information about BFA Visual & Critical Studies please contact pcrousillat@sva.edu.

This exhibition is dedicated to the memory of Robert (Bob) Guglielmo (1962- 2003) (BFA 1984 Cartooning).

Free and open to the public