20th Annual Tree of Life ceremony
The 20th Annual Tree of Life ceremony observes the 30th Annual World AIDS Day in support of Mama’s Kitchen, with the help of The Center and Village Hillcrest. Those and other organizations and individuals will commemorate World AIDS Day by “recognizing and remembering those affected by AIDS, as well as the ongoing leadership efforts made to end the epidemic. It is an evening of special memories, singing and sharing, and a candle lighting to honor those affected by AIDS.”
About the event:
• Free admission and open to the public
• Special guest speakers
• Candlelight vigil
• Living memorial
• Holiday music by the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus
• Holiday tree sale to benefit Mama’s Kitchen
• A donation of $15 is requested for each personalized ornament, and two ornaments can be personalized for $25.
World AIDS Day at UCSD
The University of California, San Diego honors World AIDS Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. offering the city’s most comprehensive array of activities, performances and other happenings, with a variety of free public events, including a viewing of portions of the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
According to the university, this year’s events reflect UC San Diego’s “Getting to Zero” theme, which “uses language symbolic of the global, community-based efforts through the decades to achieve zero new HIV infections, zero stigma against those living with HIV/AIDS and zero AIDS-related deaths.”
At noon, in cooperation with the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program’s Learn at Lunch Series, a “Living with HIV/AIDS” presentation provides UC San Diego staff members who are HIV-positive the opportunity to share their stories with colleagues. The panel will be in the Chancellor’s Complex, 111a Conference Room, and will be facilitated by Dr. Cindy Gustafson-Brown from the Division of Biology.
Performances for HIV/AIDS remembrance
A performance piece begins at noon in four campus locations as a tribute to those who have died from AIDS. From these key campus locations, participants will converge in front of the Geisel Library at the Silent Tree at 12:10 p.m. The Silent Tree is part of Terry Allen’s 1986 installation Trees, and will feature the names of people who have died from AIDS and who are living with or affected by HIV. A written reflection regarding the impact of HIV/AIDS will be on display. Additionally, students of Visual Arts Professor Michael Trigilio will program both the literary tree and the music trees, also part of the Trees installation, with sound performances specifically designed to commemorate World AIDS Day.
Die-in at noon
At 12:10 p.m., University Carillonneur Scott Paulson will play original music written specifically for UC San Diego’s honoring of World AIDS Day. As the carillon plays, members of the university community will participate in a “die-in” by dropping to the ground and remaining “dead” for the length of the performance. The “die-in” vividly reminds viewers of the millions of international lives lost to HIV, particularly in regions with limited access to medication or treatment.
Following the “die-in,” at 1 p.m., there is a performance by Eric Geiger, a lecturer in the Department of Theater and Dance, and Jess Humphrey that explores the impact of HIV/AIDS through dance.
Library Walk
Red ribbons and condom “roses” will be distributed at UC San Diego’s Library Walk from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in addition to prevention information and other educational materials from numerous UCSD and community groups and organizations, including: the UC San Diego Episcopal-Methodist United Ministry Caregiver kits, Student Health Advocates, Face AIDS, the AIDS Research Institute, the Women’s Center, Voices for Planned Parenthood (VOX), the HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center, Amnesty International and the Student Sustainability Collective. Also along Library Walk is an area which presents the milestones related to HIV/AIDS, which will be available for participants to walk through reflecting on the pandemic’s impact. A large red ribbon will fill the green above Price Center Plaza.
The San Diego County Office of Public Health will provide free, anonymous rapid HIV testing on Library Walk to UC San Diego staff, faculty and students from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The rapid HIV test detects HIV via oral swab; no blood sample is needed. Counseling services and further testing will be available for those with preliminary positive results. Most appointments for the rapid HIV tests will be on a first-come, first-served basis. However, a limited number of reservations for appointment times are available at studenthealth.ucsd.edu/hivrapidtest.shtml.
Cross-Cultural Art
Throughout the day at the Cross-Cultural Center Art Space, members of the UC San Diego community will display original art works and pieces inspired by reflection on World AIDS Day. Awardees from the juried art competition of Visual Arts Professor Rubén Ortiz-Torres’s class will be on display in the glass display cases on the second floor green hallway between Price Center East and Price Center West. Concurrently, the video wall of The Loft will showcase a curated series of short films that document the artistic and visual impact of HIV/AIDS locally and throughout the world.
