By Alex Garner Editor-at-Large

It’s an art auction for APLA. The third annual Art Project LA returns for an exciting three-day event from June 29 to July 1. Bonhams will host this art extravaganza with celebrities, cocktails, and diverse collections of works from established and emerging artists.

While this is a fundraiser for a great AIDS service organization, the art isn’t directly about HIV. Art is about human emotion and perspective. It’s impossible to detach HIV from our collective experience over the past 31 years. HIV has seeped into every part of our lives and it undoubtedly informs the art that is created by our community.

Art is an essential part of our experience. It inspires us, moves us and can help us make sense of the most difficult times in our life. We saw that during the crisis years of the AIDS epidemic, with literature, photography and film.  Now the epidemic has changed and so has the artistic expressions of our communities.

LGBT pride and equality have become central to our culture but the LGBT and HIV experience are still incredibly complicated. The 1600 or so rights that come when one signs a marriage license will not magically make individuals equal. It will simply allow them access to privilege. Marriage isn’t a panacea that will fix all our political problems and it certainly would not have protected us from disease or devastation.

Though equality is supposed to be guaranteed by our Constitution, historically it’s been something disenfranchised communities have had to fight for. Our community has fought long and hard for full equality and that fight won’t end when marriage equality occurs. We will continue to fight to make sure that all parts of our communities are equal and can live lives of dignity.

The determination and resilience of our community is something to be proud of. Our pride is often expressed through our art.  Art can tell the story of a community that finds pleasure and joy amidst the difficult times. It can capture the moments when we celebrate and revel in our individuality. Art is our history, our expression, our pain and our pride. Art is us.

APLA’s remarkable three-day event isn’t just about pictures hanging on a wall in a gallery. It’s about the voice and the emotion of artists from various times and different communities. It’s a convergence of history, culture and passion. It’s the opportunity to improve the lives of those in our community while celebrating all aspects of our culture and who we are. It’s not to be missed.  See you there.

For complete details click here. 

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