Medicine Wheel Vigil for World AIDS Day/A Day With(out) Art
"Day Without Art is an opportunity to remember the many lives cut short by AIDS and to reflect on the impact of this cultural loss. But it's also a day to celebrate humanity's shared artistic legacy. Although the AIDS pandemic has claimed hundreds of artists, our continued interest and appreciation for art keeps their work alive. That is something loss will never destroy." Eric Bruehl, Getty
Boston, MA, November 19, 2015 (Newswire.com) - In 1987 a small group gathered in a San Francisco storefront to document the lives they feared history would forget this action served as the beginning of The Names Project, Also known as the AIDS Memorial Quilt. On December 1, 1998 A Day Without Art began as a National day of mourning in response to the AIDS crisis.
“I recently ran into the Theater Offensive’s Artistic Director, Abe Rybeck; he was being honored by the History project for among other things taking the message to the streets. In those early days of dying; groups like his, ACT Up AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power, Visual AIDS and others demanded acknowledgement that something horrifying was happening! I thought back to our earliest Medicine Wheels and said to Abe, “what were we supposed to do?” My answer and that of the many of you who joined me was take it to streets, not as a political action but rather to create a space to hold the stories, the grief and the sorrow,” said Michael Dowling.
"Medicine wheel Breaks down Barriers, all Barriers
Martin Walsh , Mayor of Boston
This year will be the 24th incarnation of the Medicine Wheel Vigil, now the longest running Day Without Art event in Boston. As we gear up for the 25th on December 1st, 2016 we invite you all to join us by going back to our sources.
WHEN: Beginning Nov 30th 2015 at 11:30 PM through the full 24 hours of December 1st, we will hold a 24-hour vigil of song, dance, music, poetry and prayer.
WHERE: Rotch Field, 80 Randolph Street, Boston, MA 02118
In the earliest years Medicine Wheel would be set up in Rotch Park in the South End of Boston and carry it in processional to the Boston Center for the Arts Cyclorama building for a 24-hour vigil. This year we will return to Rotch Park for the full 24 hours of December 1st, marking the hours of that day with artistic and prayerful offerings. We will hold a series of Medicine Wheel events over the year leading up to the 25th Medicine Wheel, when it will return to the Cyclorama on December 1st, 2016.
Join Us November 30th at 11:30 PM at Rotch Park 80 Randolph Street, Boston, MA 02118
Help us mark each hour of the day and fill a Day without Art with prayerful and artistic offerings. For more info contact: Michael Dowling 617-872-6065 mdowling@mwproductions.org
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