The Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS partnered with Art Explorers AZ last Friday to put on Art for HIV, a benefit night featuring the work of over twenty artists.
Portions of the proceeds from the event, hosted at the Parsons Center for Health and Wellness, went to funding the work of the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS, which includes medical research, prevention education and other support for victims of HIV/AIDS.
William Hartill, one of the featured artists, won best of show for his acrylic piece Pasture. A self-taught abstract artist living in Surprise, Hartill encourages viewers to form their own interpretations of his artwork.
“We felt captivated by what it was, what it meant,” said Gaia Farnam, one of the event’s jurors, while presenting Hartill with the award.
Hartill also did a demo of his abstract style at the event, setting up his canvas and acrylics across from his paintings. He encouraged attendees to touch the paintings, which were built up in alternating layers of pigmented and transparent paints.
Another featured artist was Theresa Lillian, a painter and mosaic artist with a gallery in Phoenix. According to her artist’s statement, the event was a personal one, as her brother fought a 2-year battle with AIDS in 1990 and passed away at the age of 37.
She cited him as inspiration for a variety of her pieces, which featured themes of interconnectedness and community. Lillian also raffled one of her pieces and donated 100 percent of the proceeds from the raffle to the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS.
Other artists doing demos included Sheila Logan, a local face and body painter, who painted a live model during the event, and ceramic artists Melanie Mead and John Kaskela.
Organized by Art Explorers AZ and Ellen Lord, the fundraising and events manager of the Southwest Center, the night also featured a silent auction, with a minimum of 25 percent of proceeds from art sales going to the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS.
Contact the reporter at rspiess@asu.edu.
