Art Saving Lives
by Elliott Fishman
Art for Life organizer Joel Diaz is out to make this year’s September 25th event “a true celebration of our lives.” He’d like to save a few of those lives, too.
Diaz, 29, is a driving force behind the all-volunteer-led art auction and fundraiser, benefitting the Columbus AIDS Task Force (CATF). As CATF board president-elect, Diaz thinks the September 25 mega-event – at Ohio State’s Sullivant Hall – is the perfect opportunity to let the LGBT community know that “AIDS is still a critical issue in our community, and CATF is more relevant than ever.” Other community leaders seem to agree. The Ohio State University’s president, E. Gordon Gee, has signed on as honorary chair, and a range of LGBT community leaders and allies are serving as event co-chairs and patrons. “President Gee has been incredible,” said Diaz. “He immediately agreed to be our honorary chair, and he even hosted a reception for our leaders and sponsors at his home.”
Since the first Art for Life in 1989 – housed in the Battleship Building just south of the North Market – Art for Life has been a rallying point for the fight against HIV and AIDS. Diaz’ biggest concern, however, is that members of Central Ohio’s LGBT community no longer think HIV/AIDS is a critical issue, and many “no longer think CATF is a relevant institution in our community.” Nothing could be further from the truth, says Peggy Anderson, the agency’s CEO.
Close to 70 percent of the task force’s case management clients are gay, and of the people tested for HIV through CATF, over 90 percent of those testing positive were men who have sex with men (MSM). “I think a lot of people in the gay community would be surprised to know those statistics,” said Anderson. “There’s something of a myth out there that gay men aren’t as affected by HIV as they once were.” The truth is, HIV/AIDS has expanded into other communities, such as women and people of color, but here in central Ohio, the majority of cases are still in the LGBT community.
Anderson pointed out that over 40 percent of those gay men testing positive were in the 19-24 age range – a fact that Diaz says makes the prevention and care work of CATF all the more important. “Young people in our community don’t think AIDS affects them, and they take too many risks,” he said. “It is our responsibility to educate them and prevent more people from getting sick.”
At the same time, the Columbus AIDS Task Force has faced a number of financial challenges, according to Anderson. Because of the state’s fiscal shortfall, Anderson said she believes at least $800,000 will be cut from the Department of Health’s prevention budget. In addition, federal funding cuts have resulted in a substantial loss of funds for the Ohio Drug Assistance Program (ODAP), which provides free and low-cost medications for HIV patients who are uninsured or can’t afford them. And, largely due to high unemployment, the number of people who are coming to agencies like CATF for these services is on the rise.
Both Anderson and Diaz said that CATF is continuing to retrench and be fiscally responsible. As a case in point, Anderson said that by the end of August, CATF would move from its East Long Street building to new offices at 4400 North High Street. “We have a six-year lease in which we will realize very large cost savings.” Anderson also said that the agency “has no plans” to reduce prevention or other staff – assuming no drastic increase in funding cuts beyond what is currently anticipated. “We made budget this year, and we hope we can get to the point where we can have enough of a reserve to withstand the cycles of budget cuts without reducing services.”
All of this, said Diaz, is why Art for Life is more important than ever. “We’re in the business of saving lives.”
Organizers hope to raise $500,000 from the event. Even more important, in Diaz’ eyes, is the opportunity Art for Life presents “to reconnect with our community, with people who have supported us over the years.” As in years past, area businesses have stepped up and donated their goods and services to help the event’s bottom line, Diaz said. “Barcelona Restaurant is again donating the food, which is wonderful, Grange Insurance is doing all of our printing, and some 18 other businesses have come together to support this event.”
Of course, said Diaz, it is the artists who truly make Art for Life a success. “The incredible thing about this event is the willingness of the artists to donate their work. Especially in this economy, it’s a real sacrifice for artists to do this.” Artwork from more than 175 artists will be represented in the juried show. Thirty pieces will be selected for the live auction – an exclusive event for about 125 patrons and donors. Other works will be for sale in the silent auction, in which all attendees can participate. A new element this year is that all of the artwork can be viewed online prior to the event. Diaz said that photographs of the items for sale – which run the gamut of media from paintings to sculpture to photography and multi-media – will be online around September 1. The online galleries, as well as ticket and patron sales, can be accessed at www.catf.net/artforlife.
In addition to the art auctions, the Teeny Tucker Band will provide musical entertainment. Moreover, longtime CATF supporters will want to be there for a special tribute to founding CATF Executive Director Gloria Smith, who will be traveling from Florida for the evening. “Sullivant Hall is going to be a fantastic venue,” said Diaz. “And of course, we’ll have an incredible diversity of people there – including civic leaders, arts patrons, LGBT community members, and everyone else who wants to support CATF and have a great time.”
“It truly is a celebration of life.”
Art for Life, the biennial benefit for the Columbus AIDS Task Force, will take place on Saturday evening, September 25, at OSU’s Sullivant Hall. For more information and tickets, go to www.catf.net/artforlife.
