High Museum of Art
Atlanta, Georgia
World AIDS Day/"Day With(out) Art"
Projects 1989-1998

The more prominent and innovative projects in the last 10 years are listed below. In all cases, Public Relations and Community Relations departments of the museum were enlisted to promote the projects to the public and press. Red ribbons, comment books, and AIDS-related literature were provided each year.

1989--Richard Meier, the architect of the High Museum of Art's landmark building, designed an architectural symbol to mark this observance of AIDS Awareness Day and to serve as a visual reminder of the effects of AIDS. The sculpture was constructed by High Museum of Art preparators out of 4x4s and measured approximately 8 x 11 x 5 feet overall. Painted in brilliant scarlet, this sculpture contrasted with the building's white exterior. From some angles, Meier's construction was a sculptural acronym for AIDS Awareness Day. From other viewpoints, the bold scarlet letters spelled out "aid"-a metaphorical call to help.

1990--A special installation was on view at the entrance of the High Museum of Art as part of a collaborative observance of AIDS Awareness Day with the Atlanta College of Art. The installation incorporated an image, derived from an electron micrograph of an infected T cell producing and shedding new HIV particles, that was transferred onto acetate and placed in the glass panes of the doors to the museum as a metaphor for the proliferation of the disease. Mirrors were inserted into the panes at eye level to reflect the visitor's face as he/she entered the museum, implying the omnipresence of the disease and its inescapable effect on all our lives. Inside the entrance, video monitors displayed texts reporting the statistical toll of AIDS on the Atlanta community. Similar installations were on view at the Atlanta College of Art, and at the High's branch at Georgia-Pacific Center, a downtown office building. Proceeds from the sale of special products made available in the Museum Shop benefited AIDS organizations. The installation was conceived and executed by Larry Jens Anderson, professor at the Atlanta College of Art; Jody Cohen, associate registrar at the High; Harris Dimitropoulos, assistant professor of architecture at Georgia Tech; Susan Krane, Curator of 20th-century art at the High; and Lisa Tuttle, gallery director at the Atlanta College of Art; and students from the Atlanta College of Art. Lori Bradley and the Atlanta College of Art Computer Graphics Department produced the video graphics for the installation, which was made possible with funds from the 20th Century Art Society of the High Museum of Art. Graphics were donated by Swatchbook Studio.

1991--A section of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt was displayed on the High's atrium floor. The Quilt segment selected for display memorialized the lives of many Georgians who died from AIDS. AID Atlanta hosted a reception at the museum to commemorate the day.

1992--To encourage visitor participation, the High provided a comment book in which visitors could write messages, prayers, remembrances, etc. to those living with AIDS or who had died from the disease, and a ribbon-cutting device that allowed visitors to make their own red ribbons. The column next to the book and ribbon stand in the atrium was painted black to symbolize our collective loss and large red ribbons were hung on five outdoor columns leading to the museum's main entrance. The High Museum-Georgia Pacific Center (downtown branch), High Museum shop at Perimeter Mall, and other Woodruff Arts Center Divisions (Atlanta Symphony, Alliance Theatre, and Atlanta College of Art) similarly participated in the commemoration.

1993--The High presented a special participatory installation, Taking Names, designed and sponsored by the architectural firm Lord, Aeck and Sargent. A 30-foot tube of red fabric, 42 inches in diameter, was hung from the museum's atrium skylight, suggesting a shaft of light from above, a spiritual metaphor for life and hope. Viewers were invited to enter the private, circular space at the base of this tube and record names of lost friends, loved ones, and acquaintances in a computer via a special computer program created for this installation. A total of 178 names were added to the computer and submitted to "The Witness Project."

1994--In collaboration with the Office of the Mayor, City of Atlanta, and Visual AIDS, the High participated in the international tour of Electric Blanket, which was projected onto the facade of the museum. This project was sponsored by Midtown Medicine Center, AID Atlanta Inc, Lauren and Klaus Rees, Judy and Jay Weisman, and Nan and Henry Durham. In-kind support provided by AIDS Survival Project, Carillon Importers Ltd., The Atlanta College of Art, Fay Gold Gallery, Harley Gould, Nexus Contemporary Art Center, and The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta. Media sponsorship provided by The Atlanta Journal/Constitution, Southern Voice, and B98.5 FM.

1995--The High draped its front entrance arch with black fabric in a gesture of solidarity and remembrance. Positioned as a gateway to the museum, the draped arch was visible to both pedestrian and vehicular traffic on Peachtree Street, Atlanta's main thoroughfare. This project was sponsored by Mid-Towne Medicine Center and Mid-Towne Home Infusion.

back to the Archive of Past DWA Projects

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