FRAMING AIDS 2010 Art Exhibition: 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.


	Art Exhibition: 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.

	Documentation: -- Installation --
	-- Opening Reception --
	The opening reception for FRAMING AIDS 2010 Art Exhibition "ABSENCE" took place on Thursday, December 2, 5 - 8 pm. The event counted with the attendance of 19 of the 23 participating artists, cultural representatives from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Queens Council on the Arts, local organizations, NYC Council Member, Daniel Dromm, and more than 175 guests who gathered at the Queens Museum of Art to observe The Sixth Annual Queens Observance of World AIDS Awareness Through The Arts. The opening reception featured the performance of Colombian visiting artist, Freddy Salinas, and the special presentation of "Ullage" by Genevieve White and Zefrey Throwell.
	Directions to QMA: #7 Flushing Train. Exit at Willest Point / Citi Field, walk in the direction of the park. Museum is located in front of the metal structure, the Unisphere.

	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 has become Queen’s Annual Observance of World AIDS Day Through the Arts.


	This program is supported, in part, by public funds from The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the NYSCA through a regrant program of the Queens Council on The Arts, discretionary funds from NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm, and private donations.