This exhibition aims to reconstitute, make familiar, and then help linger the cultural, political, economic, and social environment in which people in British Columbia lived their lives during the late 80s through 90s — the early years of AIDS. The posters, magazines, newspapers, adverts, paintings, sculptures, T-shirts, pins, logo, photos, and timeline collectively piece together the vibe of those times. Among the themes that emerge are bridge-building across communities; unsung heroes; sources of emotional and practical support; hopes; fears; and activism.
Items on display serve as tangible, extensive footnote to details mentioned in the oral history research project, HIV in My Day (2017–present) and the play In My Day which also aim to respect, honour, and preserve this past. The overarching vision of the exhibition, the research project, and the play is a future in which we have learned lessons from this past toward making a better world that includes working together, supporting each other, and mutual understanding.
We hear your voices.
For those who left us too soon and those who survive today.
The Co-Curators wish to thank the following:
Sharon Tenenbaum, Dawn Brennan, John Kozachenko, Jake Thomas, Anthony Walters, Lee Van Paassen, Allan Morgan, Lisa Lowe, Ken McDonald, Monica Emme, Terry Howard, Val Nicholson, Melody Burton
Women Around the World Are Affected by AIDS, World AIDS Day 1990 Poster, photo by Robin Barnett. Rosemary Brown, Moderator at Public Forum, November 29, 1990.
Women Take Back the Future, International Women’s Day 1985 Poster, design by Nola Johnston. March and Rally, Vancouver Art Gallery. International Women’s Day first observed in Europe, March 1911. This legacy of activism continues today, advocating for women’s voices to be heard regarding their health and well-being living with HIV/AIDS.
Angles LGBT newspaper, November 1988 issue. Cover. Front-page shout-out for International Lesbian Week. Events included lesbian storytelling, art, unlearning antisemitism, unlearning classism, Femme Workshop, Sexpertease Erotic Show, the “We Are Everywhere” parade, and a lesbians-only dance. Photo by Richard Banner.
Angles LGBT newspaper, November 1988 issue. Page 15. November 1988 random sample of “things to do” and “places to be” for LGBTQ2+, PWA, and allies to whet and support their culinary, social, cultural, sexual, activist, and other appetites.
Silence = Death, ACT UP New York Logo, on black T-shirt. The logo was designed 1986 by ACT-UP New York members and sympathizers. Designers of that logo “turned the Nazis’ downward-pointing pink triangle, sewn onto the uniforms of gay men in concentration camps, so that it pointed upward, thereby permanently connecting the AIDS crisis visually to the legacy of the Holocaust but at the same time subverting it.” — Sarah Schulman, Let the Record Show: A Political History of ACT UP New York, 1987-1993, page 322.
Living + Magazine. May-June 2011, cover photo of protest, BC Legislature, Victoria, March 26, 1986. Shown in photo: Kevin Brown, Ken Mann, and Warren Jenson — founders of Vancouver Persons with AIDS Society. Photo by Daniel Collins.
Lurking in the Shadows (2018) “I can still be charged if I don’t disclose to a sex partner and be labelled as a sexual offender.” — Val Nicholson, community-based researcher and artist.
XI International Conference on AIDS, July 7-12, 1996 Vancouver Photos by John Kozachenko, 1996. [upper]: Posters read “PM Chretien, we’re dying for a National AIDS Strategy.” [lower]: PM Chretien refused to attend the Conference, sent Minister of Health, David Dingwall. Activists turned their backs in protest. — John Kozachenko
Walk and Parade Photos by John Kozachenko. [upper]: Downtown Eastside contingent, AIDS Walk 1997, Stanley Park. [middle]: PWA contingent, Gay Pride Parade 1996 — coffins representing those that died of neglect. [lower]: Affirmative AIDS Action contingent, Gay Pride Parade 1996.
Red Road HIV/AIDS Network, Bloodlines Magazine Fall 2012 issue. Art and Design Director: Tania Willard. Back cover.
Red Road HIV/AIDS Network, Bloodlines Magazine Fall 2012 issue. Art and Design Director: Tania Willard. Front cover, Val Nicholson shown on front cover.
AIDS Walk for Life White T-shirt. “My Thinking Cap (Life with HIV)” Art: Joe Average, 2007.
The Best-Kept Secret… Poster. MARS (‘Men’s Attitude About Relationships & Sexuality’) research project. Art: Joe Average, 1996.
One World One Hope, XI International Conference on AIDS, Vancouver 1996 Poster. Art: Joe Average, 1994.
Vancouver Men’s Chorus Poster. Canada’s first gay chorus. Debut concert December 1981. Their artistry recognized by Canada Council for the Arts, 1991. Many performances as fundraisers to support PWAs.
Guy to Goddess Book, published by Ten Speed Press, 1994. Text by Bill Richardson, photographs by Rosamond Norbury. From the Introduction: “For me drag is not about passing as a woman. It’s about being big. About exaggeration, creating a character, turning heads on the street. Mostly drag is about having a blast!”
The Dot Party Community Fundraiser for PWA Emergency Fund and Gay Games 1990. Drag Queen extravaganza. September 1989, “Dots a must!” Attendees arrived attired in dots.
Theatre Cares Vancouver Logo, art, and design: Ken McDonald, c. 1993. Theatre Cares Vancouver was founded 1993 by Mary Phillips Prize recipient Dawn Brennan to raise funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS support and other causes.
Faces White T-shirt. Art by Joe Average, 1992.
Plague of the Gorgeous and Other Tales [upper] — Photo of Allan Morgan, cast member, 1995. Image used on cover of book “Plague of the Gorgeous and Other Tales.” [middle] — Book, collected tales by Gordon Armstrong, Colin Thomas, Lisa Lowe, Stuart Blackley & Kevin Gregg, and Peter Eliot Weiss; published by Scirocco Drama, Montreal, 1996. “Plague of the Gorgeous and Other Tales is dedicated to memory of John Moffat Because he was out about being gay. Because he was out about living with AIDS. Because he was funny and sexy and generous. Because he was a prodigiously talented actor. And because we miss him.” [lower] — Photo of cast and crew by Jamie Griffith Photography, 1995; from inaugural production by Out West Performance Society, 1995.
Plague of the Gorgeous and Other Tales Poster, 1995. Out West Performance Society’s production of the play, Gastown Theatre.
Theatre Positive, Ephemera Theatre Positive was a grassroots theatre company made up of HIV positive people and allies from the Vancouver theatre community dedicated to connecting artistically, educationally, and emotionally to peers and public about living with AIDS.
Theatre Positive, Ephemera Theatre Positive was a grassroots theatre company made up of HIV positive people and allies from the Vancouver theatre community dedicated to connecting artistically, educationally, and emotionally to peers and public about living with AIDS.
Ribbons from around Mother Earth, I am living with HIV (2011-present) — Val Nicholson, community-based researcher and artist. The Red Ribbon in 1991 became a symbol for indicating support and compassion for persons living with HIV/AIDS and for their caregivers.
“You promised me poems…” (1996) “…Instead, you gave me HIV. This painting [from 1996] reflects coming to terms with an HIV diagnosis. Broken trust, disappointment, fear and grief, all weigh heavily emotionally before the physical manifestation of the virus takes its toll on the body.” — Terry Howard, artist and community-based researcher.
