Avram Finkelstein

Early in the 1980s AIDS epidemic, six gay activists created one of the most iconic and lasting images that would come to symbolize a movement: a protest poster of a pink triangle with the words “Silence = Death.” The graphic and the slogan still resonate today, often used—and misused—to brand the entire movement. Cofounder of the collective Silence = Death and member of the art collective Gran Fury, Avram Finkelstein tells the story of how his work and other protest artwork associated with the early years of the pandemic were created. In writing about art and AIDS activism, the formation of collectives, and the political process, Finkelstein reveals a different side of the traditional HIV/AIDS history, told twenty-five years later, and offers a creative toolbox for those who want to learn how to save lives through activism and making art.

A History of AIDS through Its Images

After Silence

Rahne Alexander

Jordan Arseneault

Kelvin Atmadibrata

Nicholas D'Avella

Theodore Kerr

Adam Barbu

Emily Bass

Carlos Motta

WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT AIDS COULD FILL A MUSEUMCuratorial ethics and the ongoing epidemic in the 21st CenturyWith over 40 contributors from around the world, this issue of On Curating wrestles with "forgetting", "seeing", "collecting" and "making" AIDS related culture in the 21st century, and the growing impulse to historize aspects of early responses to the crisis.Through academic essays, conversations, visual projects, reprints and personal reflections, a reader will be exposed to ideas, theories, images, and advice from artists, academics, activists, curators, writers and others around the ethics and practices of curating AIDS-related culture within the ongoing epidemic.Edited by writer, organizer and educator Theodore (ted) Kerr, WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT AIDS COULD FILL A MUSEUM is an important contribution to the vital conversation about HIV/AIDS-related culture that both centers the role of museums as sites for community, knowledge sharing, inspiration and healing, while also exploring their limits and future possibilities.With contributions byAbdul-Aliy A Muhammad and Louie Ortiz-FonsecaAdam Barbu and John Paul RiccoAlper Turan Avram FinkelsteinCarlos Motta, John Arthur PeetzCatalina ImizcozCharan SinghCharles Stephens with Naina KhannaDr. Manon S. ParryDudu QuintanilhaEdward BellevilleEmily Bass and Yvette RapheaelEmily ColucciGreg ThorpeHeather HolmesJ. Ricky PriceJaime Shearn CoanJean Carlomusto, Hugh Ryan and Alexandra JuhaszJordan ArseneaultKairon Lui and Manuel SolanoKate HallsteadKelvin Atmadibrata and Benji de la PiedraL.N. HafeziLuiza Kempińska, Hubert Zięba, Szymon AdamczakLyndon K. GillMarika CiforMavi Veloso and Nicholas D'AvellaMichael CrumplerMichael McFaddenMichael MiiroNelson SantosRahne AlexanderRenaud Chantraine, Florent Molle, and Sandrine MussoSheldon RaymoreSian CookStamatina GregoryVladimir CajkovacWhat Would an HIV Doula Do?

OnCurating Issue 42: What You Don't Know about AIDS Could Fill a Museum

Avram Finkelstein

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