'touched', A Traveling Photo Exhibit Featuring Black and Latina Women Affected by HIV/AIDS

This fall, the Women’s Institute of GMHC will present 'touched', a dynamic photo exhibit geared toward increasing the visibility of black/African American and Hispanic/Latina women who are impacted by HIV and AIDS.

Women of color are among the most vulnerable populations affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States.   According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 80% of the HIV/AIDS cases of females in the United States are black and Latina.   The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reports that while representing only 49% of the entire female population, 90% of women living with HIV are Black or Hispanic, and 94% of teenage females living with HIV are black and Latina.

The photos were taken by, Delphine Fawundu-Buford.  Delphine’s work has been exhibited in the International Center of Photography, the Perkins Center for the Arts, and at the Westbeth Gallery. She was chosen as one of 200 artists out of over 1,000 reviewed to represent Brooklyn’s most cutting edge artists in the unprecedented and largest survey of its kind in the exhibition “Open House: Working in Brooklyn” at the Brooklyn Museum of Art in 2004.

Delphine has also contributed to magazines such as Vibe, The Source, Essence and Rolling Stone. Her work has been used to create publicity campaigns for the Fresh Air Fund, Elektra Records, Soros Foundation, Universal Music Group, The Refugee Project (Lauryn Hill’s non-profit), The Red Hot Organization and RCA Records.  She has traveled to South Africa, Sierra Leone, Spain, Egypt and Cuba where she photographed former Black Panther, Assata Shakur, who is living there in exile.

When asked about her experience in taking photos for the exhibit, Delphine shared, “The women exude tenacity and an incredible energy of life.  Through their eyes, smiles, and posture, you can experience women who are living life to the fullest, either with the virus or supporting a loved one affected by HIV.  I must say that it was truly inspiring to document the beautiful faces and voices of women who represent love, strength and faith in the face of HIV.   This experience will make me forever touched and inspired not to stop fighting AIDS and working until there is a cure.”

Each photo is also accompanied by a personal statement by each of the women.  The exhibit challenges stigma associated to HIV and women, while encouraging dialogue in communities most impacted by the epidemic.  The exhibit emphasizes the strength and resiliency of black and Latina women which, in many ways, has the power to transform how we respond to HIV in communities.

The ‘touched’ exhibit opened at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center this past summer.   From September 1 to 30, the exhibit can be seen at Billie’s Black Restaurant, 271 West 119th Street, between St. Nicholas and Eighth Avenues in Harlem.  A community discussion on Wednesday, September 29th, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm will feature the ‘touched’ models and spoken word artists.  The talented chefs of Billie’s Black will provide food.

The exhibit will continue to travel throughout New York City.  For more information about the exhibit, or to host the exhibit, please contact Alicia Heath Toby at (212) 367-1355 or aliciat@gmhc.org.