A NEW BOOK OF BEAUTY, INTIMACY, LOSS, AND RENEWAL: ERIC RHEIN: LIFELINES

Luv 'til it Hurts on October 20, 2020

Institute 193, the innovative gallery and publisher, has announced the publication of Eric Rhein: Lifelines

This is the first book from artist Eric Rhein: a unique monograph-memoir spanning three decades of his life and artwork. It features intimate photographs taken between 1989 and 2012—including self-portraits and images of friends and lovers from the period between Rhein’s HIV diagnosis, his near death, and the returning vitality that new medications would afford him. As a personal response to the AIDS crisis, these compelling portraits highlight tenderness and care as life-saving forces.

Kinsmen (self-portrait, with Leaves (an AIDS memorial), the MacDowell Colony), 1996

The book also includes watercolors, delicate assemblages, and wire drawings—notably his ongoing project Leaves, an AIDS memorial honoring over 300 individuals whom Rhein knew.

Eric’s work embodies love, touch, connection to nature, and to familial and regional history. The artist draws from his Kentucky roots and his family relationship with his uncle Lige Clarke—a gay rights pioneer of the 1960s and 70s. They are inspirations for his art and activism. Rhein mines collective and personal narratives, formulating pieces that are both poetic and documentary.

Kissing Ken (self-portrait with Ken Davis), 1996

“. . . .Eric Rhein’s most recent book, is an emotional journey through intimate scenes where Eric, his friends, and his lovers share time and space during the AIDS crisis of the 90’s—a time of extreme duress and pain. “Feelings” is a word I often associate with Eric’s gentle artworks: longing, love, lust, life—and this page-turner of a book is ripe with outbursts of intimate emotions. In his photographs and sculptures, Eric memorializes lives lost to AIDS, but he also rightfully celebrates his own survival. I am happy Eric is still here with us and able to communicate what it feels like to have survived a past that informs the experience of living in the present.”

— Carlos Motta, artist, activist, and documentarian

The book includes essays by National Book Award-winning poet Mark Doty; former Institute 193 Director Paul Michael Brown; and Rhein. Of Eric’s work, Doty writes, “These images affirm the desiring self at a moment when desire had become dangerous…”

Orchids, 2019
Wire and paper, 11 x 14 x 2 inches

Ted Mats Me (from Hospital Drawings, Saint Vincent’s Hospital), 1994
Marker on paper, 11 x 12 inches

About Eric Rhein: Eric has exhibited widely in the United States and abroad, and his work has been reviewed in the New York Times, Huffington Post, ARTnews, Vanity Fair, and Art in America. New York Times critic Holland Cotter wrote of Rhein’s work: “…the combination of art and craft, delicacy and resiliency, feminine and masculine, is exquisitely wrought and is, as it should be, seductive but disturbing.” Eric Rhein is included in the Smithsonian Archives of American Art’s Visual Arts and the AIDS Epidemic: An Oral History Project.

About the publisher: Institute 193 collaborates with artists, musicians, and writers to produce exhibitions, publications, and projects that document the cultural landscape of the modern South.

Release date: November 10th, 2020

Distributed by: ARTBOOK | Distributed Art Publishers

ADVANCE PURCHASE NOW AVAILBLE:

Purchase through the publisher, Institute 193:

https://institute193.bigcartel.com/product/eric-rhein-lifelines

Purchase through Barnes & Noble:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eric-rhein-eric-rhein/1135547584?ean=9781732848238

Purchase through the distributor, ARTBOOK:

https://www.artbook.com/9781732848238.html

Purchase through Amazon:

One luv ends and another begins; HIV2020; etc.

Luv 'til it Hurts on July 8, 2020

Originally HIV2020 was to be held in Mexico City as an alternate meeting to AIDS2020 that was to be held in San Francisco. The biennial AIDS conference is a big show, and cities compete to host it for its business. There’s a tenet of the meeting that it alternates between ‘north’ and ‘south’ countries. AIDS2018 was in Amsterdam, but for some reason the decision that it be in San Francisco was made, which in turn gave rise to HIV2020. Luv ’til it Hurts was launched at AIDS2018 with a postcard series by the artist Kairon Liu and his project, Humans as Hosts. And, since it’s a two-year project (at first), we have a major milestone now two years later as both AIDS2020 and HIV2020 go totally online due to COVID19.

The ANKH Association and Luv-affiliated artist, Alberto Pereira Jr. proposed a physical exhibition and live performance respectively for HIV2020 under the title ‘Luv ‘til It Hurts: Experiences from Egypt & Brazil’ (and before COVID19 struck). These are now both online in the virtual art exhibit convened by HIV2020. See: https://www.hiv2020.org/hiv2020-ope-005

Back when HIV2020 was to be a physical event in Mexico City, we were considering how to pay for travel, registration and lodging. For lodging, the project Human Hotel by Danish duo Wooloo offered to help find housing using their local network in Mexico DF. A big THANKS to Wooloo for offering this, and a big CONGRATS to Ankh Association and Alberto Pereira Jr. for their entries to HIV2020 Online!!!

Luv ‘til it Hurts began as a two-year, uncharted project about HIV and Stigma. An odyssey, of sorts. Yet, a limited set of questions. A discussion that grew into a team. Its next-life is aligned with our urgency to keep talking… talking in different directions and including others. The experience of many, once a minefield of individual fears, instigates the rumbling of collective production power. We’re gathering our ideas on a common table, and planning for a future whose hope is in the disruption of our present. We are convinced that to strategize our next steps we need more than single linear energies, but a group, a multitude of voices prepared to sing (and shout), to harmonize and also disarrange. Luv ‘til it Hurts is a platform for real bodies to come onboard and co-pilot its playful unfolding, one set of interaction generating the next. Alberto Pereira Jr. (Brasil), Brad Walrond, Paula Nishijima, Todd Lanier Lester, Every Where Alien (US), ANKH Association (Egypt), Humans as Hosts (Taiwan), Love Positive Women, Nhimbe Trust (Zimbabwe), Luciérnagas (Colombia) … and morphing. Embark immediately*!

[*We invite you to check out the new website (www.luvtilithurts.co) that sprang up around the two-year mark. Right now Alberto’s video performance is holding space there, but by the end of July the whole site will be in plain view. And, you will see what we’re thinking about for the future of luv.]

LUV is an Endorser of the HIV2020 Conference in Mexico City

Luv 'til it Hurts on October 22, 2019

HIV2020: Community Reclaiming the Global Response
Mexico City, July 6-8, 2020
www.hiv2020.org

—Background—

Human rights conditions in the United States of America (U.S.) have worsened, since the presidential election of Donald Trump. This is especially true for immigrants from Muslim, African, Caribbean and Latin American countries, as well as for people of color, people who use drugs, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and sex workers. Legal travel restrictions imposed by the U.S. on sex workers and people who use drugs, will make it very difficult for our communities to enter the country.

Against the recommendations of community advocates worldwide, including the national networks of people living with HIV in the U.S., the International AIDS Society (IAS) chose the U.S. as the site for its next International AIDS Conference in 2020. Their decision creates a dilemma for many in the global HIV movement and reveals a willingness by mainstream HIV actors to tolerate the discrimination of people from Muslim, African, Caribbean and Latin American countries, people who use drugs, sex workers, transgender people in U.S. immigration and travel policies. The decision also resurfaces questions about the importance and community-relevance of large, multi-million-dollar conferences in the face of shrinking investment in the global HIV response. The costs of medicines and other barriers to HIV prevention, care, and treatment services like stigma, discrimination, violence, and criminalization, continue to plague the HIV response worldwide.

—Response—

An alliance of global key population-led networks, networks of people living with HIV, treatment activists, and our supporters, has formed to organize an alternative international community-led event. Titled, HIV2020: Community Reclaiming the Global Response, the event is scheduled to take place in Mexico City, July 6-8, 2020, and will run concurrently with the first half of the international AIDS conference. The HIV2020 alliance has decided to organize the community-led event to provide a safe alternative for individuals who cannot or will not enter the U.S. in 2020 or who cannot afford to attend AIDS2020. It will also offer new opportunities to reaffirm the leading role communities play in the global HIV response.

HIV2020 will be key population-led, inter-disciplinary, sex positive, and will focus on the following topics: community-led responses to HIV; funding and service disparities; sexual and reproductive health and rights; universal health coverage; decriminalization of HIV transmission, exposure, and non-disclosure, drug use, homosexuality, and sex work; gender equity and trans inclusion; economic and racial justice; eliminating homophobia, transphobia, and whorephobia; ending violence against cis and transgender women, gay men, sex workers, and people who use drugs; and coalition work. Specifically, HIV2020 aims to:

1. Build safe and friendly space for the equitable exchange of information, knowledge, experiences and expertise by ensuring diverse voices are heard and reflected;
2. Promote community-led solutions and good practice in sexual health and human rights;
3. Amplify community voices in calling out the inequities experienced across key populations and specific legal restrictions on some key populations’ right to freedom of movement;
4. Demonstrate the importance of meaningful involvement of communities in health and human rights responses;
5. Reaffirm community commitments and priorities to global health and human rights responses (inclusive of HIV);
6. Model an innovative approach for deliberating new research, tools, and strategies and their real-life implications, with communities as equal partners.

—Call to Action—

We are calling for advocates, community-based organizations, healthcare and services providers, researchers, public health officials, and funders to stand in solidarity with HIV2020. Collectively, we must insist on the meaningful engagement of people living with and disproportionately affected by HIV in the global response. And we must stand together against the discrimination of people from Muslim, African, Caribbean and Latin American countries, people who use drugs, sex workers, and transgender people.

—Become an Endorser—

We are seeking organizations to sign onto the above statement, as well as to issue their own statements of solidarity and to commit to disseminating information about HIV2020 as it becomes available.

Individuals are invited to participate with conversations online with the hashtag #ReclaimTheResponse

To become an endorser, sign up here.

Relatoría Sesión #3 – Arte / VIH

Luv 'til it Hurts on October 6, 2019

Laboratorio Luciérnagas
Relatoría 13 Julio

sesión #3
Arte / VIH

Invitados:
Fernando Arias
José Fernando Serrano
Juan Betancurth

Relatoría:

Fernando habló de su proyecto de residencias Más arte más acción. Dice que para el arte debe accionar. También habló de la importancia de la crítica

En diálogo con José Fernando se tocaron los siguientes temas:

Activismo / Violencia / LGBTI / proceso de paz / activismo LGBTI en Colombia / LGBTI con la paz (ahí se trabajó el tema Venezuela)

La historia e historias del VIH en general en relación a la migración

El VIH o SIDA fue llamado en un comienzo la enfermedad de las tres haches (Haitianos, Homosexuales, Heroinómanos).

Conceptos: MIGRACIÓN – INVACIÓN (África: a Suráfrica venían de Mozambique)
Paralelo a la idea africana de invasión.

Activismo – VIH La idea de lo Queer nació del activismo VIH

Thatcher – Reagan : ignoraron la enfermedad

el performance – la acción – el cuerpo

memorizar los proceso y el olvido (el deseo consciente de olvidar) (tal vez no queremos recordar)

La relación enfermedad – muerte (hace 30 años, ¿ahora?)

Pensamos cómo ha cambiado (a nivel de enfermedad, y a nivel de percepción social) le relación con el VIH entre los 80´s y la actualidad

Idea: El terror como concepto coreográfico. En época de terrorismo (limpieza social)

Kevin: el VIH como castigo religioso (piensa la gente popularmente)
Defensa de derechos de salud

OLVIDO Y EMERGENCIA

Memorias legales, memorias personales, memorias sociales

De qué se habla, de qué no se hablar

Quizás la medicina avanzó pero no la labor médica

Juan Betancurth: El problema es falta de información

SILENCIO como problema

Los mata mas la familia y la sociedad que la misma enfermedad

El terrorismo a la enfermedad. (Pensar en “Metáforas del Sida” de Susan Sontag.

ARTE: poder testimonial (memoria) poder de exteriorizar

Artista: Cómo en cada colectivo exploran el arte. Experiencias, experimentación, difundir, guardar memoria

Qué es el PrEP y como se usa: Colectivo LOVE lazers.

Información es poder:
21% de mujeres trans en Colombia tiene VIH

____________________________________________

Luciérnagas Lab
June 13th report

session #3
Arte / HIV

Invitees:

Fernando Arias
José Fernando Serrano
Juan Betancurth

Report:

Fernando spoke of his residency project. More art more action. He said that for art it is necessary to activate.He also spoke of the importance of criticism.

In dialogue with José Fernando the following subjects were touched on:

Activism / Violence / LGBTI / peace process / LGBTI activism in Colombia / LGBTI with peace (here the subject of Venezuela was worked on)

The history and histories of HIV in general, in relation to migration

HIV and AIDS was initially called the three “h’s” (Haitians, Homosexuals, Heroin-addicts).

Concepts: MIGRATION — INVASION (Africa: in South Africa people came from Mozambique)

Parallel to the African idea of invasion.

Activism — HIV The idea the Queerness was born out of HIV activism

Tatcher — Reagan : ignore the disease

the performance — the action — the body

memorize the process and the forgetting (the conscious desire to forget) (maybe we do not want to remember)

The disease — death relationship (it’s been 30 years, now?)

We think of how much it’s changed (in terms of disease, in terms of social perception), the relationship with HIV and the 80s and today

Idea: Terror as a choreographic concept. In times of terrorism (social cleaning)

Kevin: HIV as a religions punishment (people popularly believe)

Defense of health rights

FORGETTING AND EMERGENCY

Legal memories, personal memories, social memories

Of what is spoken, of what is not spoken

Perhaps medicine has advanced but not the medical labor

Juan Betancurth: The problem is the lack of information

SILENCE as a problem

Family and society kill more than the disease

Terrorism to the disease (Think of “AIDS and Its Metaphors,” by Susan Sontag)

ART: testimonial power (memory) externalizing power

ArtistL How art is explored in each collective. Experiences, experiments, diffuse, keep the memory

What is PrEP and how it is used: LOVE lasers collective.

Information is power:

21% of trans women in Colombia have HIV

1st ‘About’ page: A discussion to be accountable to

Luv 'til it Hurts on September 12, 2019

A discussion to be accountable to …

Luv ’til it Hurts is about HIV and stigma.

Discussion, campaign, mechanism, agency.

All of these words describe the vision for Luv ‘til it Hurts. Yet, if it becomes nothing more than a discussion to be accountable to, then it has succeeded.

It should have this accountability first and foremost. And, thereby, remember the work (art and otherwise) that came before it.

As a porous container, it aspires to ‘hold’ people together long enough for essential introductions and exchange of ideas.

Curating, Healthcare, Cultural Movements, New Support Strategies. etc.

Whoever enters this ‘space’ may stick around and help give it shape over a two-year period. ‘Taking responsibility’ is up for grabs.

As a campaign (simply meaning the cacophony of multiple voices) it will generate resources. They will be used to maintain the container and will be shared strategically. Luv lasts two years because it is a guided experiment in organizational form that aspires to become a robust support mechanism working for and with HIV+ artists and their peers from both within and outside the arts.

It is the third durational, rights-themed, multi-stakeholder project launched by Todd Lanier Lester. Because it follows a loose ‘methodology’ it is also intended as a form of research, something its authors hope will become clearer over time. At the very least, it will report back at the end of each of four six-month quarters. Please stay tuned.

House of Zion Debut at Luv ‘Til It Hurts Launch

Luv 'til it Hurts on June 8, 2019

[*Before Pony Zion took part in Cidade Queer and Luv ’til it Hurts, I had the opportunity to attend one of his workshops in Lecce, Italy. xot]

In his own words, Pony Zion describes his motivation for sharing his dance performance and choreography on the occasion of Luv ’til it Hurts‘ NYC launch:

“This is one of those extremely special moments in time when we get to connect in artistic communication and celebrate one another through the expression within our gifts and on top of important platforms that were built to Lead, Learn and Love. Together, let’s explore our imagination, share our minds and live by our talents by engaging in our Luv ‘TIL it Hurts.”

Pony Zion is a father, dancer, choreographer, performer, creative director and Icon of the House of Zion. He started the House of Zion in NYC and helped open its first chapter in São Paulo, Brazil. Pony has starred in various videos and films, including Lanes (2015) and Vogue Theory (2015) that discusses the impact of Voguing on NYC youth, and is the founder of Vogue Revolution.

House of Zion

Luv Till It Hurts by Kairon Liu

Luv 'til it Hurts on October 1, 2018

Opening Reception: Thursday, October 18 from 6-8pm
Exhibition dates: October 18-28, 2018
Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 12-6pm

El Museo de Los Sures
120 South 1st Street, Brooklyn, NY 11249
(Between Bedford Avenue and Berry Street)

Curatorial Advisor: Adam Zucker, Theodore (Ted) Kerr

Organized by Luv ’til it hurts, and collaborating with more than 150 others to co-create Reimagine End of Life 2018.

Today, medical treatments help people infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) have prolonged and ordinary lives, as well as prevent further transmission, but they can never kill the virus hiding within. Despite these advances, moral condemnation and discrimination against the disease continue. The consequences of this stigma are mental illness and distress, often generating greater suffering than the physiological disease itself. Until a true cure is found, shame, insecurity, and trauma will continue to afflict those diagnosed with HIV until our societies and communities change the ways in which we consider and support them.

Kairon Liu started his research with HIV in 2017 in Taiwan. The inspiration of Liu’s project, Humans as Hosts is his best friend, alias Tree, who has recovered from betrayal and sorrow several times due to his affliction. The photographs and archives created by Liu and the participants he encounters through his daily life and practice make evident that all human beings are exposed to the virus. We are all human beings, and we continuously face this threat, physically and/or mentally.

This exhibition is made possible by multiple supporters that Liu has engaged during his time with Residency Unlimited in New York. While the exhibition title reflects Liu’s ongoing journey to confront the universal value, it also reveals the first chapter of the artist-led discussion on HIV and stigma, Luv ’til it Hurts.This program is made possible with support from The Lily and Earle M. Pilgrim Art Foundation, Apicha Community Health Care, Candi Me, Ford Foundation and the Institute of International Education. Special thanks to Taipei Cultural Center in New York, Residency Unlimited, Artists Alliance Inc, Visual AIDS, Hetrick-Martin Institute, and Baboo Digital.

As a visual artist and photographer, Kairon Liu’s practice reflects his observations on diverse beliefs in human society through the creation of narratives exploring issues related to religion, disease, and universal values. Since 2017, Liu has been developing Humans as Hosts, a project focused on understanding the living situation of people with HIV and heightening awareness about AIDS. In collaboration with social networks, NGOs, and public health authorities, Liu gets to know HIV-positive individuals and invites them into his work. The resulting images/archives can be viewed as the proof/disproof of stereotypes, prejudices and stigmatization produced by societies.

This program has been made possible with support from Ford Foundation and the Institute of International Education. The Lily and Earle M. Pilgrim Art Foundation, Candi Me, Special thanks to Taipei Cultural Center in New York, Visual AIDS, Artists Alliance Inc, Hetrick-Martin Institute, and Baboo Digital.

Luv Till It Hurts by Kairon Liu, is part of Reimagine End of Life.

About Reimagine: Reimagine End of Life is a week of exploring big questions about life and death through art, creativity, and conversation.

For the last few months, artists, storytellers, healthcare professionals, faith and community leaders, and innovators across all five boroughs of New York City have been uniting to create a unique week of events that will prove to be reflective of this city’s diversity and spirit. With more than 250 events set to explore death and celebrate life from every perspective, we invite you to join us in questioning how we think about our most universal experience.

Visit www.letsreimagine.org/new-york to learn more!

Let’s bring death out of the shadows and into the light.

A discussion to be accountable to …

Luv 'til it Hurts on October 1, 2018

A discussion to be accountable to …

New generations of HIV/AIDS strategies
6-8:30pm, Saturday, Oct. 27th

See video of the House of Zion debut performance that preceded the panel discussion.

Free and Open to the public

The Center
208 W 13 St
New York, NY 10011
212.620.7310

A discussion to be accountable to … is a part of Reimagine End of Life in NYC, a week of exploring big questions about life and death. The story goes that two artist projects focused on HIV—Humans as Hosts & Luv ‘til it Hurts—‘met’ in NYC, and Reimagine End of Life festival is the context for an intimate chat and hanging out with friends. Making new ones. Seeing a new piece by Pony Zion. It looks like a panel, but it’s more like a ‘discussion’… on stigma and HIV in different parts of the world. New networks. New strategies. Right now.

6pm, Intro

‘Get your life’ performance by Icon, Pony Zion, House of Zion
Brad Walrond reads ‘1986’, a poem chronicling the legacy of the Ballroom scene and the advent of black queer organizing in the face of HIV/AIDS pandemic
Video Message from Coletivo Amem / House of Zion in São Paulo, Brazil
Introduction of Luv ‘til it Hurts by Todd Lanier Lester (begins to moderate with Kairon after reflecting on the exchange between NYC and São Paulo)

6:30, Discussion

Kairon Liu presents Humans as Hosts and the current situation in Taiwan
Malaya Manacop (Hetrick-Martin Institute)
Phillip Miner (APICHA Community Health Center)
Ted Kerr (Curator)

7:30, Q&A / Broader discussion

8:30, Closing

Despite the fact that medical treatment is accessible for HIV positive individuals, the issue of stigmatization persists and manifests in unpredictable ways pervasively … globally. Antiretrovirals block viral replication and can prevent further transmission, however they do not counter the stigma related to HIV that can manifest as familial shunning, discrimination and moral condemnation against those who are diagnosed. These things jam up our mental health and arguably cause more suffering than do physiological symptoms. As we ‘reimagine end of life’ in relation to HIV, how do advancements in medicine and public health, a continually broadening global dialogue, and relative levels of peer-support—depending on geography, family acceptance and culture among other conditions—factor into the equation?

Starting in 2017 in Taipei, Taiwan, Kairon Liu began working with local NGOs, healthcare providers, and social networks to meet HIV+ individuals he would then get to know, interview in their living spaces, and photograph. This collection of stories grew to become Humans as Hosts, a collection of stories that tease out attitude, mental conditions and the general living environment of Kai’s subjects.

Luv ‘til it Hurts is a new campaign that aspires to become a meaningful support mechanism for HIV+ artists and their peers initiated by Todd Lester. Todd sees Humans as Hosts is a network methodology, whereby Kairon incorporates the lived experience and networks (healthcare and otherwise) around him into his interview and photo-documentary process. And, he would tell you that he is hoping to gain new friends in the process. Kai invited some of those friends tonight.

The discussion will consider how a few artist- and everyday practices address HIV awareness and its related stigmas. It will take a historical look through the lens of Ballroom. And, just like the artist practices of Kai and Todd, and the everyday roles of House of Zion, #HouseLivesMatter, APICHA, Hetrick-Martin, VisualAIDS and other groups, this ‘discussion’ is a process of meeting people and understanding things we didn’t before.

It’s still early. Please join us. Please help this discussion to be the continuation and evolution of other important talks … something we may all be accountable to moving forward.

***

Kairon brought Humans as Hosts to NYC this year through a partnership between Residency Unlimited and the Taipei Cultural Center in New York, and exhibits a combined series from the two cities at El Museo de Los Sures (Williamsburg) from October 18th thru 28st, a solo show called Luv ‘til it Hurts.

BIOGRAPHIES:

Todd Lanier Lester is an artist, writer and cultural producer. He lives in São Paulo, where he works with Associação Espaço Cultural Lanchonete—a project focused on the right to the city—with a group of fellow city dwellers. Todd founded freeDimensional, a network that helps artists in danger by providing safe haven in participating artist residencies, He is a Senior Fellow at the World Policy Institute and a Research Associate with both Laboratório para Outros Urbanismos at the University of São Paulo and Culturizing Sustainable Cities at the University of Coimbra. Todd serves as advisor to arts, rights and literary organizations in India, Mexico, Brazil, Germany and the US. freeDimensional (2003-12) and Lanchonete.org (2013-17) began a series of durational, rights-focused, multi-stakeholder art works for which Luv ’til it Hurts (2018-20), a project on HIV and related stigmas is the last.

As a visual artist and photographer, Kairon Liu’s practice reflects his observations on diverse beliefs in human society through the creation of narratives exploring different issues related to religion, disease, and universal values. Since 2017, Liu developing the project Humans as Hosts focused on understanding the living situation of people with HIV and heightening awareness about AIDS. In collaboration with social networks, NGOs, and public health authorities, Liu recruits HIV-positive individuals to volunteer as participants. The resulting images/archives are to be viewed as the proof/disproof of the stereotypical prejudices and stigmatization produced by the public.

http://www.kaironliu.com/

Malaya Mañacop is a social worker, health educator, and community organizer based in New York City. She began organizing work while she was a student at San Diego State University for her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She continued to follow her passion of social justice and organizing work in NYC, where she earned her master’s degree in social work from New York University – Silver School of Social Work. She currently works with Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI), an after-school program that serves LGBTQ youth and young adults (ages 13 – 24). At HMI, she coordinates the Community Promise program, a paid internship program for young people living with HIV. Malaya’s work is rooted in healing justice, anti-imperialism, and anti-oppression, while centering queer and trans people of color.

Phillip M. Miner Queer Advocate and profiler of Queer Artists. He is currently the Director of Grants and Communications at Apicha Community Health Center in NYC, Founder of Outspoken Collection, and all around nice guy.

Canadian born Theodore Kerr is a Brooklyn based writer, organizer and artist whose work focuses on HIV/AIDS, community, and culture. Kerr’s writing has appeared in Women’s Studies Quarterly, The New Inquiry, BOMB, CBC (Canada), Lambda Literary, POZ Magazine, The Advocate, Cineaste, The St. Louis American, IndieWire, HyperAllergic, and other publications. In 2016, he won the Best Journalism award from POZ Magazine for his HyperAllergic article on race, HIV, and art. In 2015, Kerr was the editor for an AIDS-focused issue of the We Who Feel Differently journal.

Brooklyn born poet, author, mixed-media performance artist and activist Brad Walrond’s work is borne out of several overlapping Underground communities in New York City including The New Black Arts Movement, The Underground House/Dance Music communities, Black Rock Coalition, The NYC Ballroom Scene, and the black queer political arts and activist movements that arose in response to racism, homophobia, transphobia and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Brad’s work is about identity formation and human consciousness at the intersection of race, gender, sex, and desire. Brad is a graduate of The City College of New York and he earned his M.A. in Political Science from Columbia University. Follow him on instagram and facebook @bradwalrond.

Pony Zion is a father, dancer, choreographer, performer, creative director and Icon of the House of Zion. He helped to take the House of Zion from NYC to São Paulo, Brazil.

Luv ‘til it Hurts and this panel discussion is made possible with support from Ford Foundation and the Institute of International Education. Additional support provided by APICHA CHC | Community Health Care in New York City.

Luv Till It Hurts by Kairon Liu, is part of Reimagine End of Life.

About Reimagine: Reimagine End of Life is a week of exploring big questions about life and death through art, creativity, and conversation.

Visit www.letsreimagine.org/new-york to learn more!

Let’s bring death out of the shadows and into the light.