DAY WITH(OUT) ART: MEET US WHERE WE'RE AT

A World AIDS Day Short Film program Presented by Yakima Pride and Visual AIDS

Yakima Pride is proud to partner with Visual AIDS for Day With(out) Art 2025 by presenting Meet Us Where We’re At, a program of six videos that forefront the experiences of drug users and harm reduction practices as they intersect with the ongoing HIV crisis.

Meet Us Where We’re At… will feature newly commissioned videos by Kenneth Idongesit Usoro (Nigeria), Hoàng Thái Anh (Vietnam), Gustavo Vinagre & Vinicius Couto (Brazil/Portugal), Camilo Tapia Flores (Chile/Brazil), Camila Flores-Fernández (Peru/Germany), and José Luis Cortés (Puerto Rico).

Commissioned videos by artists in Puerto Rico, Brazil, Nigeria, Germany, and Vietnam journey across a range of spaces revealing the complexity of drug use. Several videos document the visible world of drugs—a harm reduction program in a Berlin park, a night out during Rio’s Carnival—while others reveal private, often hidden spaces where safety is found: bedrooms, underground clinics, and moments of connection between lovers.

Meet Us Where We’re At speaks not only to the variety of physical locations where contemporary harm reduction is practiced, but also to a broader shift: centering drug users as authors of their own experiences. Rooted in the philosophy of meeting people at their personal reality without judgment, the program affirms the full context of drug use—its pleasures, its risks, and its role in how people survive, care, and connect.

Harm reduction has long been central to the AIDS movement through practices like needle exchange and safe injection sites, and people who use drugs have been affected by HIV since the earliest days of the epidemic. This program brings their perspectives to the forefront, amplifying the voices of drug users as storytellers, cultural producers, and essential participants in the global response to HIV.

As this is a program centering harm reduction, it will contain depictions of sexual activity and drug use.

An Evening of Art, Remembrance, and Community

This free World AIDS Day event invites you to gather in solidarity with LGBTQ+ community members, leaders, and allies. Your evening will include:

• A powerful display of 31 panels from Yakima’s own local AIDS Memorial Quilt collection, on loan from the Yakima Valley Museum and presented by Yakima Pride. This deeply personal collection honors the unique lives and stories of those from our own community lost to HIV/AIDS.

• A special performance of songs from "RENT". Several volunteer cast members from the Yakima Valley College’s Playmasters' fall musical are performing in support of World AIDS Day. Support these talented artists by seeing their full production, which runs November 13-15 and 20-22 at 7:30 p.m. in YVC’s Kendall Hall Auditorium. Tickets are available online.

• Support Our Community Partners: We also encourage you to attend the Yakima Valley College Diversity Film Series. In honor of World AIDS Day, they will be screening the powerful 2011 documentary "WE WERE HERE". You can catch the screening on December 1 at 1 PM on the Yakima Campus (Location: HUB) or on December 4 at 11 AM on the Grandview Campus (Location: SAC).

• Hear from guest speaker Charlie Lopez Salgado (he/him/él) from Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho. Charlie will discuss HIV/AIDS prevention and the vital services Planned Parenthood provides to our community. Planned Parenthood will also host a resource table with information on services like PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis), a daily medication that helps prevent HIV.

• Data Justice Consultant Veronica Smith (she/they) reflects on the question: "What can the results of the WA LGBTQ+ Survey do for Yakima? (or the South Central region?)".

• A compelling screening of Day With(out) Art: Meet Us Where We're At, a program of six newly commissioned videos. Content Advisory: As this is a program centering harm reduction, it will contain depictions of sexual activity and drug use. Viewer discretion is advised.

• Participate in a thought-provoking community discussion following the screening, giving us a chance to reflect together on the films and their powerful themes.

• Enjoy a complimentary cinematic snack experience, featuring free popcorn, movie-themed candy, and a variety of beverages.

• Red Ribbon Solidarity: Show your support in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Wear a red ribbon, or pick up a complimentary one at our event check-in.

Visual AIDS is a New York-based non-profit that utilizes art to fight AIDS by provoking dialogue, supporting HIV+ artists, and preserving a legacy, because AIDS is not over.

1996 In Memory of Craig Calvin Smith April 4, 1959-October 24, 1994.

Note on back "Handmade 11/96 by all who loved Craig, Norma (Mom) Smith assembled it".

Memorial banner, blue background, photo image on fabric of craig in upper left corner, black felt lettering glued on, as well as musical notes, upper clef sign, masks of comedy & tragedy; on right side of banner relatives & friends have written messages to Craig, children's line drawings at top.

In Memory of Matthew Scofield January 31, 1959-November 29, 1985

Always in Our Hearts, Mom, Dad, Luanne, Mike, Katy, Sheldon, Caity, Steve, Becky & Auntie Lois.

Memorial banner, pale blue, photo images on cloth in center, photo of Matthew, above that two other photos of him; above that a poem his mother wrote for him, kite symbols, Eisenhower, Holiday Inn, 1983 gay pride festival.

In Memory of Craig Calvin Smith, No Dates;

Note on Back of Banner "To Craig From Debra".

Memorial banner, shades of purple fabrics, blocks machine stitched, triangles in squares, red binding, name in white patterned fabric & also the first two lines of "earth shall be fair and all her people one".

c 1988 In Memory of Raymond Le Master July 7, 1952-August 7, 1988.

Memorial banner, white duck background, design painted on; above his name: "The world has lost a special person - in our hearts forever"; at center of banner a staff with "Morning Has Broken - -", upper right corner an airplane, upper left corner kites, bottom right corner books & a cat, lower left corner top of grand piano.

c 1990 In Memory of Robert H. Tate III March 17, 1947-January 20, 1990.

Memorial banner, white background, green velvet shamrocks at upper corners, song sheet of "Amazing Grace" & "I Did It My Way" near bottom; silver notes glued on, purple upper clef & green name & dates.

c 1993 In Memory of Joseph Clarence Sluder October 4, 1944-September 26, 1993.

Memorial banner, medium blue top, photo image near top with name & dates stencilled below, "Society's Child Art Gallery, Seattle, WA." below that, "to boldly go" stencilled near bottom, silver spaceship, moons, stars, planets glued on above that, design of crimson flowers & ribbons interspersed.

c 1994 In Memory of Richard G. Wike, Jr. April 10, 1956-August 2, 1994.

Memorial banner, tabs at top for hanging, red & yellow border, black panel with blue ford mustang, red-haired driver with fuzzy dog in passenger seat in center of quilt, purple mountains & yellow sun at top, plastic symbols at each corner: Sparta, Bacchus, Orpheus, No AIDS Play Safe Task Force.

c 1994 In Memory of Jose 1945-1994.

Memorial banner, pale yellow fabric, burlap backing, main focus photo image on fabric of Jose, handmade crewel embroidery flowers surround photo, turquoise satin binding: below photo is red satin streamer held on either end by flying birds with other flying birds above & below, teddy bear glued on, printed message in spanish, gold sun & woven strip near top.

c 1995 In Memory of Andres Maldonado December 30, 1969-June 14, 1995.

Memorial banner, bright blue fabric with white cotton piece sewn on top, blue fabric oval with vital statistics & photo image on fabric below; crimson flowers with blue centers & dark green leaves in crewel decorate this white piece, white crocheted edging around wooden cross.

c 1995 In Memory of Ron M. Bey January 23, 1934-June 30, 1995.

Memorial banner, pieced cabins around edges; all have black doors, center panel predominately orange print, silhouette of man with wheelbarrow, flowerpot of black felt, fabric roses growing from pot, gardening tools from pencils sewed on, silver sunburst at top.

c 1995 In Memory of Kody Kukulka December 14, 1965-January 14, 1995.

Memorial banner, white duck background; center rectangle has photo image of kody with names of friends & relatives; upper left corner has printed fabric square of man in boat landing fish; on right side are two printed fabric sports cars; at lower left is a photo image of two children with "We miss you Dad" in upper corner.

c 1996 In Memory of Johnny Uncleimi, April 30, 1941-December 4, 1995.

Memorial banner, Christmas tree theme, one stuffed white tree with gold sequins, one black tree with multicolored sequins, beaded eagle near top; background fabric black with gold stars & moons, white crocheted rectangle in center, top designed for wall hanging.

c 1996 In Memory of Sim French December 9, 1948-April 18, 1996.

Memorial banner, dark blue plain fabric, no backing, stencilled name & dates, photo on cloth of toy poodle stitched on with "Woofus" stencilled beneath, tabs pinned on top, white tabs for hanging.

c 1996 In Memory of Hazel Earls 1958-1996.

Memorial banner, purchased quilted material, red cotton border, glued on appliques of flowers, burlap wide brimmed hat at center with violet & pink ribbon bow with long streamers.

c 1996 In Memory of Tony Judkins October 24, 1968-January 31, 1996.

Memorial banner, dark blue background with white binding, photo image on cloth of Tony in red plaid shirt, red plaid flannel rectangle surrounds his picture; in each corner is red plaid square surrounded in white; in center of each square is a piece of printed fabric, two of horse, two of rabbit, tabs for hanging.

c 1997 In Memory of Bobby Joe Rosenbaum July 1, 1956-December 30, 1997.

Memorial banner, at center American flag motif, main flag bordered with camouflage fabric; the rest of the top is Christmas themed, center top & bottom rectangle of teddy bear fabric; one lower corner has fabric with Christmas tree, the other has fabric printed "the gay 90's"; top corners have teddy bear on one side, chalice, bread, cross at other, tiny plastic Christmas ornaments sewn on.

c 1997 In Memory of Karen Ramos 1947-1997.

Memorial banner, tabs at top for hanging, wider & shorter, a banner, purchased quilt material in off-white, purple lettering, rose border, roses glued on in all-over pattern, three white crocheted doilies also glued on, rose shades patterned fabric coffee mug with brown coffee & white steam glued on in center.

c 1998 In Memory of Penny Dominguez February 15, 1967-July 8, 1998.

Memorial banner, approximately 3" squares, mostly blue & white, blue plaid backing, photograph of Penny Dominguez by Christmas tree, fabric cross with chain, & native american print, one large 11" square of north coast indian head & strips at top & bottom of North Coast symbols, tabs at top for hanging.

c 1998 In Memory of Herald John Weslow October 26, 1938-August 15, 1998.

Memorial banner, dark lavender background, plum back & stripe around all sides, plum cross on off-white lace in center, two ceramic masks near top & appliqued flying horse at bottom, wall hanging tabs at top.

c 1998 In Memory of Ricardo Sanchez November 11, 1959-January 17, 1998.

Memorial banner, black center part with wide serape-striped horizontal band at top & bottom; center of black part has fabric picture of ricardo as a baseball; bat has struck ball; at bottom of black part are a row of fans, cheerleaders, & band members; on serape fabric at top are a sunburst & angels, made from an actual serape.

c 1998 No Name on quilt-1948-1998.

Memorial banner, red background, nine rectangles, black grosgrain ribbon between each panel; center top has photo image on fabric of memorialized man; each panel commemorates a different aspect of his life - music a recurring theme, cats, a bridge, a Christmas panel; looks as if several people made individual panels.

c 1998 This morning quilt was displayed at New Hope, a clinic serving HIV and AIDS positive patients in Yakima as part of the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic.

Mourning quilt with "NEW BEGINNINGS" - A quilt made with an off white cotton canvas background that is decorated with 39 butterfly designs. At the top of the quilt the words "New Beginnings" is displayed, painted in 4 inch purple letters. Each butterfly design is unique. They are constructed of tulle feathers, pompoms, felt, lace, ribbons, glitter or beads. The butterflies are of all colors. There are 2 caterpillars and one design is a three dimensional stick of butter with a fly attached. Some designs are signed. [Eric R., J.D, Maria 9-9, Maria 2K, and RH.]

c 1998 This morning quilt was displayed at New Hope, a clinic serving HIV and AIDS positive patients in Yakima as part of the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic.

Mourning quilt "Remembering You: Bobby Joe, 1997; John, 1998; T.C., 1998" From a Northwest Public Broadcasting article titled, I'll Always Remember Him: Yakima Nurse Reflects on Serving Patients Ahead of World Aids" states, "This one was used as coffin cover for Bobby Joe, a patient who died in 1997." A quilt made with a dark green cotton canvas background that is decorated with a 39 people motif around the perimeter of the quilt. The center of the quilt is embroidered with the words "Remembering You: Bobby Joe, 1997; John, 1998; T.C, 1998 The people are both men and women and each is unique. Some are decorated to resemble: an alien, a witch, a sailor, a cowboy, a princess, a pumpkin, the tin man from Wizard of Oz and a scuba diver. The people are decorated with felt, yarn, beads, buttons and pipe cleaners. The quilt has a tan cotton backing which has a flowerpot design.

c 1998 This morning quilt was displayed at New Hope, a clinic serving HIV and AIDS positive patients in Yakima as part of the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic.

Mourning quilt. A quilt made with a blue cotton canvas background that is decorated with 24 individual squares. Each square varies in size the largest is 15" x 15", the smallest is 3" x 4") and in design. Some squares use words ("You live in our hearts, Jose, For Angel Christmas in Heaven, Erin for Jim). Some squares are decorated with feather, beads, sequins, fabric cut outs, ribbons, pipe cleaners or 3D appliques. The top center of the quilt is decorated with the message "We Celebrate Life.".

c 1999 In Memory of Angel Sanchez December 4, 1969-March 14, 1999.

Memorial banner, dark green sheet background, two large rectangles of manufactured floral design surrounded by lace at top & bottom, fabric funeral program in center of quilt with white dove in fabric on either side of program, green sheet fabric tabs for hanging.

c 2001 In Memory of Marc Lester Griffiths November 7, 1966-January 12, 2001.

Memorial banner, blue background, photo images of Marc, his obituary, his funeral program & a poem; in center of quilt is his sweater, white with blue, red, black; at top & bottom & up the sides are a variety of neckties; necktie pieces form tabs for hanging.

c 2001 In Memory of Javier Guerrero 1959-2001.

Memorial banner, dark blue duck background, white satin binding, photo image on fabric of Javier in center with smaller photo images of him as child & adult, & of friends in a circle around central photo, gold fabric stars with printed fabric motifs in horizontal rows, mostly of land animals & fish.

c 2001 In Memory of Lucio Gonzalez January 4, 1963-March 10, 2001.

Memorial banner, white cotton background, red crocheted round doilies with white flower in center, red musical notes glued on, photo image on cloth at center - lucio with his semi-truck.

c 2002 In Memory of Phillip Sommer August 1, 1957-May 23, 2002.

Memorial banner, quilted, but no batting, white background, green & black plaid long sleeved shirt sewed on, baseball cap (Darigold) sewn on at bottom of shirt; below that dates of his life & photos on fabric of Phillip as a boy & as an adult, red plaid from another shirt at bottom, backing of blue print, white bias tape hanging tabs.

c 2002 In Memory of Manuel Guerrero June 9, 1956 -September 18, 2002.

Unfinished memorial banner; quilted piece is composite of Camp Dudley "healing through nature" wellness retreats 1998 through 2001, logos appliqued on quilt top; pinned to that is plain blue fabric with memorialized man & dates in glued on felt.

Mission

Visual AIDS utilizes art to fight AIDS by provoking dialogue, supporting HIV+ artists, and preserving a legacy, because AIDS is not over.

Statement of Values

Founded in 1988, Visual AIDS is the only contemporary arts organization fully committed to raising AIDS awareness and creating dialogue around HIV issues today, by producing and presenting visual art projects, exhibitions, public forums, and publications—while assisting artists living with HIV/AIDS. We are committed to preserving and honoring the work of artists with HIV/AIDS and the artistic contributions of the AIDS movement. We embrace diversity and difference in our staff, leadership, artists, and audiences.

In the fight against AIDS, we believe:

• Effective AIDS advocacy seeks to address the underlying and related issues that contribute to and exacerbate the pandemic, such as poverty, homophobia, and racism.

• Our work affirms the visibility, dignity, and rights of people living with HIV and AIDS.

• HIV/AIDS prevention is about harm reduction that is guided by science, not ideology.

• We draw from the deep history of art activism, as with our Red Ribbon Project and Day With(out) Art.

• Visual AIDS promotes art that is public, inclusive, and accessible.

• Art that takes risks promotes and encourages reflection, dialogue, and action.

Art is our weapon of choice.

History

Visual AIDS was founded in 1988 by art critic and writer Robert Atkins, curators Gary Garrels,Thomas Sokolowski and William Olander (1951-1989). Visual AIDS was one of the first national initiatives to record the impact of the AIDS pandemic on the artistic community. It brought together the arts and AIDS communities through its renowned national projects Day Without Art, Night Without Light and The Ribbon Project.

Learn more about Visual AIDS: https://visualaids.org

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