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At first look, the outside of Buckhead Artwork & Firm—a brick-and-mortar gallery situated in one among Atlanta’s most upscale neighborhoods—seems to be extra of the identical—a complicated providing for rich clientele that the majority residents half-hour south of I-85 would deem inaccessible. But, as soon as inside, that perceived narrative is instantly disrupted. The area, its proprietor—Karimah McFarlane—together with 30 portraits of individuals dwelling with HIV and allies in “Tales of Triumph,” a photograph exhibition by photographer Sean Black presently exhibiting in observance of World AIDS Day on December 1, are components in an inventive gumbo that’s Black, Southern, accessible, and deeply dedicated to fostering neighborhood.
Curated in partnership with Emory COMPASS Middle and Gilead’s COMPASS Initiative, the exhibition is the fruits of a three-month street journey by photographer Sean Black to seize the energy and resilience of individuals dwelling with HIV because the virus continues to have a disproportionate affect within the South. Black joins a rising checklist of 30 artists represented at Buckhead Artwork & Firm, most of whom are from the Atlanta space and exist inside a marginalized neighborhood.
For McFarlane, a Decatur, GA native who acquired the up to date artwork gallery in June, the exhibition is private.
“I’ve individuals in my household who, sadly, have been impacted by the virus,” McFarlane tells GLAAD. “The stigma they get or have lived with has been eye-opening for me, so to even be capable of make clear these tales feels very private to me and my household.”
In a earlier interview with GLAAD, Leisha McKinley Seaside, an Atlanta-based nationwide HIV advisor who seems within the photograph exhibition, mentioned there’s nonetheless a stigma related with HIV.
“After we speak about what stigma seems to be like in Black communities…that factor is so heavy, and it’s impacting our choices to entry and maintain HIV care and remedy,” McKinley-Seaside mentioned.
Shakita Jones, Founder and Government Director of Central Alabama Alliance Useful resource & Advocacy Middle, additionally seems within the photograph exhibition. She tells GLAAD that HIV as a public well being menace is sadly not an pressing concern for many individuals.
“One of many main issues individuals have been saying to me was, ‘We didn’t know that [HIV] was nonetheless a difficulty,” Jones mentioned.
Though the U.S. South accounts for under 38% of the nation’s inhabitants, the area accounts for 52% of latest HIV diagnoses, in keeping with the CDC.
McFarlane tells GLAAD the partnership with Emory COMPASS was a pure match as each organizations are dedicated to philanthropic work. McFarlane lately hosted an exhibition for Ukrainian artists, with 85% of the proceeds returning to the artists. McFarlane says she is in “awe” of Black’s work.
“As a photographer, his consideration to element, his means to seize the moments of therapeutic that the people are displaying, is unbelievable,” she mentioned.
McFarlane says the programmatic choices at Buckhead Artwork & Firm for World AIDS Day exemplify her funding in wealth and neighborhood constructing whereas impacting tradition.
“My entire goal is to create wealth in historically marginalized communities, and artwork is likely one of the methods you’ll be able to purchase wealth—financially, mentally, spiritually,” she mentioned. “One of many causes I acquired the gallery was to create areas of neighborhood and pleasure by bringing individuals collectively.”
The “Tales of Triumph” photograph exhibition precedes “Cocktails and Conversations,” a hearth chat merging creative expression with well being and well-being that includes distinguished Black LGBTQ/HIV advocates and entertainers.
GLAAD reporter Dionne N. Walker can be in attendance. Return to GLAAD.org after World AIDS Day for an in-depth report.
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