Student Exhibit Brings AIDS, HIV Images Front and Center

Written by Sally Lehrman

HIV can infect any of us. And it affects us all: Our friends. Our neighbors. Our siblings. Ourselves.

An exhibition of student photographs that just opened at the Santa Clara County Government Center presents people living with HIV or AIDS who are young and who are middle-aged. They are black, brown, and white. They live in wealthy neighborhoods, suburbs, and transitional housing. They contribute to our communities by working on behalf of others, engaging in the arts, going to school, and here, sharing their lives with you.

In Silicon Valley, one out of five HIV-positive people does not know his or her status, allowing the virus to spread. Nearly 40 percent –more than 1,500 people – do know they are infected with HIV, but do not receive adequate care. Why?

The indifference. The denial. The silence.

In this project, students in the digital photography course taught by Takeshi Moro, assistant professor of Art & Art History at Santa Clara University, took on this challenge. They worked collaboratively with HIV-positive volunteers, starting with an initial community meeting at the Health Trust’s Food Basket to ask the question, “How can a photograph address stigma?”

As we asked community members to join as participants, we met many who felt they could not step forward. They worried about those who fear them, people who do not know that the virus is transmitted through intimate sexual relations, blood or breast milk – not through a hug or a handshake. They worried about those who will judge them, who will turn away.

The fact that HIV usually goes hidden and unspoken is obviously harmful to those who live with it. The stigma surrounding the virus discourages people from getting tested and from using available services. We heard stories about people who had to hide their medications from their own families for fear of being found out. Just as important, public health specialists say, community support and connectedness are known factors vital to good health for all of us.

We tend to think of health as a personal responsibility. And yes, individual decisions do matter. But our decisions are shaped by the conditions we live in, including conditions of fear, denial and judgment. This is something we all can do something about.  

In our project, students and participants shared details of their own lives and worked out a process together. They met over a span of three weeks to conduct an interview, create a visual portrait, write the participant’s biography and respond in an artist’s statement. Gabriela Mena, peer educator, who graduates in public health science and biology this year from Santa Clara, helped out with logistics.

This virus exacts a heavy toll. Those among us living with HIV or AIDS have learned to embrace life in full, with dignity, courage and joy. Let us embrace their lives, too.

You can see the exhibition of photographs, biographies and artist statements at the Santa Clara County Government Center, 70 W. Hedding, San Jose, now until June 20. 

Participants included Avelino Azevedo, Lavella Benton, Andre Braxton, Kermit Conley, Drew Kleis, Kristin Lowery, Manuel Monzón, Ray Otani, Bob Reed, Robert Smart, Don Spotts, and Karl Vidt.

Photographers included Samira Almendras, Jake Barz, Joseph Casalnuovo, Sara Ho, Zachary Jaca, Luke Kaneb, Peter Killory, Michael Lam, Gina Marioni, Holly McKenna, Robert Monaco, Erin Munekiyo, Thomas Nance, Katelyn Ott, Whitney Reynier, Christina Shuh, and Marluve Veltze.

Student Photograph Subjects:

Manuel Monzón

Don Spotts

Karl Vidt

Ray Otani

Drew Kleis

Robert Smart

Kristin Lowery

Bob Reed

Kermit Conley

Lino Azevedo

Please join our effort against AIDS. Whether you think you are vulnerable or not, get tested. Do it for yourself, and for all of us. Here are some resources for testing and services, along with our collaborators listed below:

Santa Clara County HIV Prevention and Positive Connections

The Health Trust AIDS Services

California HIV Services

This project, which is an outgrowth of the Santa Clara University Gerald and Sally DeNardo Lectureship Community Roundtable with Dr. Abraham Verghese in 2012, was made possible with the support of: The Health Trust, Ira Greene Positive PACE Clinic,Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager, Santa Clara University Public Health Program, Santa Clara University Department of Art & Art History, the Gerald and Sally DeNardo Lectureship, Asian Americans for Community Involvement, Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center, Black Coalition on AIDS, Positive Women's Network, WORLD: Women Organized to Respond to Life-Threatening Disease, Bill Wilson Center, and theAcademy of Friends.

Manuel Monzón, Fred Ferrer, Jerry Larson, Dena Dickenson, Malaya Arevalo, Javarré Wilson, Jim McPherson, Raj Gill, and the Santa Clara County HIV Planning Council for Prevention and Care, served as advisors.