BEHIV Organizes 5th Annual Art Therapy Exhibition and Reception

This fall, artists will be able to show their art, get paid for it and fight for HIV/AIDS at the same time.

Chicago's Better Existence with HIV (BEHIV) has selected their submissions for their fifth annual Art Therapy Exhibition. Chosen artwork will be on display at the Art Therapy reception on Nov. 19 and stay at the Center on Halsted until 2011.

Submissions for the November reception were received by 12 p.m. on Fri., Oct. 8.

There were no submission fees, and artists could submit multiple pieces by e-mail to behiv@behiv.org. Eric Nelson, BEHIV's Executive Director confirmed that if the piece doesn't fit the theme of resilience, there's still an opportunity for the art to be selected.

"We really look to select the best pieces that are submitted and then give us a good cross section of different types of artwork, different mediums and different artists," said Nelson. "For a lot of people who may be dealing with issues, art is a way for them to be able to communicate in ways that they might not be able to communicate otherwise. Art therapy is a way for them to give back and give something that they like to do and know that this is a way to not only showcase their work and be part of a show but also help people who need assistance."

Artists who are selected for the Art Therapy Exhibition will work with art therapists to create a selling price for their work. Fifty percent of the proceeds will go back into BEHIV's Art Therapy Program and the other 50 percent will be the artists' profits, unless that artist chooses to donate 100 percent of the proceeds to BEHIV.

The Art Therapy Program, which is no longer being funded by the Ryan White Care Act, is receiving funds from the fundraising reception on Nov. 19, too. Ticket prices are $50 per individual, $90 for a couple and $200 for a benefactor, which includes two tickets to the show and extra recognition in the program book. The fundraising reception is from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and then the public opening is from 7:30 p.m. until 9 p.m.

The artwork exhibition will be displayed from Nov. 19 to Jan. 4 in the Center on Halsted located at 3656 N. Halsted St. on the third floor between the theater and the gymnasium. Artwork has been displayed here three of the five years.

"A larger number of people see the show there than other galleries we've exhibited at," said Nelson. "It's much more central for our clients and a lot of our supporters. (The Center) is one of the largest providers and services of the GLBT community in Chicago, and this is a way for us to be part of that and do our part to showcase our work in a setting that maybe some other people may not normally visit."

Artists will also get exposure on BEHIV's website, BEHIV's Facebook page, BEHIV's e-blasts, printed programs, the sponsorship signs and media exposure from outside outlets.

Better Existence with HIV (BEHIV), located on Chicago's north side at 1244 W. Thorndale, is a 21-year-old organization that educates over 5,000 people about HIV/AIDS prevention. BEHIV houses over 190 people who are currently living with HIV/AIDS and gives over 1,000 free STI tests from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Thursday. BEHIV also provides case management, mental health counseling and massage therapy services for people living with HIV and AIDS.

For more info:

Better Existence with HIV (BEHIV) website

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