Day without art recognizes loss of artwork to AIDS

The eighth annual Day Without Art was observed by parts of the world on Dec. 1. Oberlin turned Day Without Art [DWA] into a week to commemorate the loss of AIDS victims in the art community since most students were not on campus Dec. 1 due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

The days without art were observed in many ways across campus. Pieces of art, such as the plug sculpture near the Allen Memorial Art Museum, rocks in Tappan Square and pieces in the King sculpture court in the AMAM, as well as others around campus, are shrouded in black cloth.

Professor of Art History William Hood said of the Day Without Art, "I think that the specific thing is not only to heighten AIDS awareness, but the toll AIDS has taken in the artistic community. In the music, theater, dance, you name it." He also emphasized the fact that Day Without Art was completely brought together by the members of the Art Students' Committee.

Scott Burton's the Chair  is also on display in the sculpture court of AMAM. Burton believed that chairs symbolized the absence of people. His piece embodies the loss of AIDS victims, including the creator.

First-year Alison Gent is directing The Pirates of Penzance  and is one of the people with a piece going up this weekend. She is one of many people who wasn't aware of DWA when she scheduled her piece for this weekend, since planning takes months in advance and DWA wasn't publicized until recently.

"I feel kind of bad," said Gent. She acknowledged that her piece is colorful comedy, possibly not appropriate for this weekend. She doesn't know too much about DWA, but can't postpone the show because rescheduling would be too difficult.

Charles Mason, Asian Art Curator of AMAM, was one of the people who made the decision not to shut down the AMAM for DWA. A new exhibit dealing with traditional Japanese Drama is opening on Saturday despite DWA.

Not opening or even delaying the exhibit would mean that "other communities might show up and there wouldn't be a show - we're here to think about them," said Mason.

Sophomore Amanda Larson, of the Oberlin Film Society, thought it was strange that no one asked for OFS films to be canceled this week. She thinks they should have been canceled, but didn't know much about DWA other than the flyer she recently received in her mailbox.

Activities around campus during the course of the week include a portion of the AIDS quilt being displayed in the Heisman Field House over the weekend, and Elevate, a rave being held late tonight in Wilder Hall. The Art Students' Committee is holding a panel Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in the AMAM King sculpture court to discuss AIDS-related issues.

Rock without art: Some of the rocks in Tappan Square, generally used for anouncements, were covered with black cloth in conjunction with the nationally recognized Day Without Art. (Photo by Josh Ritter)