Visual AIDS is pleased to announce its third VAVA Voom Spring Benefit and the recipients of the Seventh Annual Visual AIDS Vanguard Awards. This year’s honorees include photographer and writer Frank Jump, founders of P.P.O.W gallery Wendy Olsoff and Penny Pilkington, as well as writer, activist, and entrepreneur Sean Strub. The awards will be presented to them respectively by Rosario Dawson, Martha Wilson, and Urvashi Vaid.
Guests to the cabaret-themed evening will be treated to special performances by internationally renowned c... Read more
Visual AIDS is pleased to announce its third VAVA Voom Spring Benefit and the recipients of the Seventh Annual Visual AIDS Vanguard Awards. This year’s honorees include photographer and writer Frank Jump, founders of P.P.O.W gallery Wendy Olsoff and Penny Pilkington, as well as writer, activist, and entrepreneur Sean Strub. The awards will be presented to them respectively by Rosario Dawson, Martha Wilson, and Urvashi Vaid.
Guests to the cabaret-themed evening will be treated to special performances by internationally renowned cabaret performers Joey Arias and Daniel Isengart. Additionally, actor and comedian John Fugelsang will return this year as the evening’s master of ceremonies. VAVA Voom festivities will also feature a silent art auction including pieces from Duane Michals, Thomas Ruff, James Welling, Annette Lemieux, Eric Rhein, and Steed Taylor. The performance and award ceremony will take place on Monday, May 14, 2012, beginning at 6:00 p.m., at The Angel Orensanz Foundation located at 172 Norfolk Street in New York City.
“VAVA Voom reflects the vitality of Visual AIDS. With the incomparable Joey Arias and Daniel Isengart, this celebration of art and performance honors the transformative contributions of our VAVA Voom awardees. Like them, Visual AIDS continues its cultural work because AIDS is not over,” says Visual AIDS Board President Brice Brown.
The Visual AIDS Vanguard Awards recognize artists, arts patrons, arts workers, and activists who exemplify the mission of Visual AIDS through their commitment to HIV/AIDS advocacy and their support of artists living with HIV. All of this year’s recipients are well known for their influence on contemporary art in New York City and AIDS activism. Wendy Olsoff and Penny Pilkington founded P.P.O.W. gallery in 1983 with a commitment to artists who create work with social and political content, such as Hunter Reynolds, Martin Wong, and David Wojnarowicz.
Photographer and writer Frank Jump is the author of the Fading Ad Campaign websites and blog and the recently released Fading Ads of New York City (History Press). Jump is a long-term survivor of HIV, and a founding member of ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power). Sean Strub is an activist and writer who has been living with HIV for more than 30 years. He is the founder of POZ Magazine and is currently the Executive Director of the SERO Project and co-founder of the Positive Justice Project, both of which are focused on combatting HIV criminalization.
This event brings together artists, arts patrons, and LGBT and AIDS activists, many of whom have supported Visual AIDS over it’s 24-year commitment to HIV prevention and AIDS awareness.
Tickets for VAVA Voom begin with Friend tickets for $275 ($500 for two). Patron tables are available for 10 guests for $5,000; eight guests for $4,000; and six guests for $3,000. Space is limited. For tables and tickets, or inquires, please contact the Visual AIDS office at +1 (212) 627-9855 or asadao@visualaids.org. For more information about the event visit: www.visualaids.org.
