Exhibition Event - Siyazama: Traditional Arts, Education, and AIDS in South Africa
SubjectPortrait of
Marge Schneider
SubjectPortrait of
David Schneider
SubjectPortrait of
Margaret Weeks
SubjectPortrait of
Shawn Lang
American, 1956 - 2021
SubjectPortrait of
Marta Leal
Chilean
SubjectPortrait of
Jean Schensul
SubjectPortrait of
Marit Dewhurst
SubjectPortrait of
Li Tang
SubjectPortrait of
Elsie Vasquez
SubjectPortrait of
Colman Long
SubjectPortrait of
Tony Magno
Date2009
Mediumborn digital photography
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineConnecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections
Description2015.196.441.1-.4 and 2015.196.441.5-.8 Photographs from the "Siyazama: Traditional Arts, Education, and AIDS in South Africa" exhibition and exhibit events.
2015.196.441.5: Image removed for sensitivity
(.1) Image showing Marge and David Schneider with Marianne and Libor Von Schönau at a Siyazama event.
(.2) Image showing Margaret Weeks, Shawn Lang, and Marta Leal at a Siyazama event.
(.3) Image showing Jean Schensul with unidentified people at a Siyazama event.
(.4) Image showing Marit Dewhurst, exhibit curator and guest speaker at a Siyazama event.
(.6) Image showing Tony Magno with ICR staff Margaret Weeks and Jean Schensul at a Siyazama event.
(.7) Image showing the Siyazama exhibit installation.
(.8) Image showing exhibit objects packed for delivery to ICR.
2015.196.441.5: Image removed for sensitivity
(.1) Image showing Marge and David Schneider with Marianne and Libor Von Schönau at a Siyazama event.
(.2) Image showing Margaret Weeks, Shawn Lang, and Marta Leal at a Siyazama event.
(.3) Image showing Jean Schensul with unidentified people at a Siyazama event.
(.4) Image showing Marit Dewhurst, exhibit curator and guest speaker at a Siyazama event.
(.6) Image showing Tony Magno with ICR staff Margaret Weeks and Jean Schensul at a Siyazama event.
(.7) Image showing the Siyazama exhibit installation.
(.8) Image showing exhibit objects packed for delivery to ICR.
Object number2015.196.441.1-.8
CopyrightIn Copyright
NotesSubject Note: ICR’s CT Cultural Heritage Arts Program hosted the exhibit Siyazama: Traditional Arts, Education, and AIDS in South Africa in the ICR Gallery from April 16, 2009 to July 10, 2009. ICR partnered with AIDS Project Hartford (APH) and the CT AIDS Resource Coalition (CARC) as well as local artists working in innovative ways to inform and educate about the virus, to produce three events and assist with event promotion. We also had excellent support from Yale’s Center on Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA) and UConn’s Center for Health Intervention and Prevention (CHIP). The project brought new audiences to ICR, established new partnerships, and helped to bring the arts together with medical and social interventions in a new way. The art works told personal stories of sadness and resilience among those affected by AIDS, and presented powerful, culturally appropriate educational and prevention messages that have saved lives in South Africa."Siyazama: Traditional Arts, Education, and AIDS in South Africa" featured beadwork, story quilts, dolls and other folk arts that were created by those suffering with AIDS as a way to educate others about prevention and treatment. Organized and circulated by Michigan State University Museum, "Siyazama" included 120 objects in traditional art forms such as beadwork, dolls, wire baskets, and story quilts made in South Africa by rural craftswomen. The Siyazama Project began in 2002 as a way to educate and empower women who suffered the worst consequences of the devastating AIDS epidemic in SA, by educating them and others about prevention and health practices while encouraging production of their beautiful folk arts as an income source for families. Folklorists and curators at Michigan State University joined the project to gather a collection of the art works and develop a traveling exhibit for the US. As part of its only East Coast showing, the exhibit served as a springboard for public events that offered information, stimulated discussion, and encouraged compassion and creativity in confronting the AIDS crisis.
The primary project goal was to raise awareness about the serious AIDS epidemic both in Africa and locally among African-American populations where it was growing fast at that time. The project also showcased local health resources such as prevention and education programs that use art as both an intervention and a healing tool.
Events held as part of the exhibit at ICR:
At the opening, Siyazama curator Marit Dewhurst from the Museum of Modern Art in NYC gave a talk on her collection of the art works in South Africa and the background to the project. Shawn Lang and others from AIDS Project Hartford and CARC talked about their work locally to develop new education and intervention methods to prevent the virus. CeCe Jones and the Sing For Change project performed.
On May 28, film maker Sarah Friedland screened her film "Thing With No Name," about the effect of AIDS on two women in South Africa, and she led an audience talkback with Shawn Lang from CARC.
On June 5 ICR presented a day-long forum on innovative education and dissemination methods for combatting HIV/AIDS. We partnered with UConn’s Center for Health, Intervention, and Prevention; and Yale’s Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS. Speakers were global - from Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, China, India, and Hartford. ICR presented its innovative work using urban artistic styles to convey important prevention messages about HIV/AIDS.
Additional audio, video, and photographic materials exist in the archive relating to these communities and artists.
Cataloging Note: This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-245929-OMS-20.
On View
Not on view
Margaret Weeks
2008-2009
Glaisma Pérez Silva
July 1999
Jampa Tsondue
2018 March 10
Gryssel Ramirez
1999 October 14
