Artists, activists, and community members from across the city
came together to transform outdated HIV medical materials into beautiful, new
paper. They then used the new paper to document their own stories about the
impact of HIV/AIDS in their lives and communities. For participants, it was transformative
to take materials that were no longer useful in the fight against HIV/AIDS and
turn them into a community history of survival, resilience and defying
expectations.
People’s Paper Co-op facilitator, Mark Strand Quist, kicked off
the event by placing a stack of books in the front of the room and inviting
participants to rip pages out of the books as they introduced themselves and
shared why they had come to the event. Then, while Mark and Co-op co-founder, Courtney
Bowles, prepped the shredded books to be transformed into new paper, AIDS
Library staff librarian Cyree Jarelle Johnson led a writing workshop for
participants.
Mark and Courtney followed with a hands-on demonstration of how
paper is made. They then helped participants make their own sheets, embed the
writing they had done into them, and hang them up to dry. The finished sheets were bound into a book that is now housed
at the AIDS Library of Philadelphia.
Collaborating Partners & Sponsors
“Still Here: Defiant Aging with HIV” was
a collaborative effort of the LGBT Elder Initiative, the AIDS Library of
Philadelphia and the People’s Paper Co-op.
This program was made possible through the support of Philadelphia
Corporation for Aging, Delaware Valley Legacy Fund, John C. Anderson Apartments, and Philadelphia Gay News.
Resources
The AIDS Library of
Philadelphia is located at 1233 Locust St # 2, Philadelphia, PA
19107. You can call the Library at (215) 985-4851.
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