By Bonnie Goldman

WE PAY TRIBUTE HERE to many of the female members of Visual AIDS; women who have incorporated their HIV status into their lives and employ its power to help them express themselves. The women we feature here are remarkable and courageous -- and are only a few of the millions of women throughout the country and the world who refuse to let a virus prevent them from living their lives and speaking out.

Since its inception in 1988, Visual AIDS has become the largest organization supporting, archiving and exhibiting HIV-positive artists in the United States. They organize and sponsor a wide variety of programs -- from exhibits and publications to the Speakers Bureau, a group of artists who visit schools, museums and other organizations to discuss their work and their HIV status.

More recently Visual AIDS launched its Web Gallery which features monthly online exhibits of art selected from the Visual AIDS Archive Project. For the past eight years the Archive Project has preserved the works of artists both living and dead -- including the women featured on these pages. The Archive Project also provides its members with a wide range of support, including: free photo- documentation of art work, artists materials grants to low-income artists, emergency grants, free access to lawyers for estate planning, opportunities to exhibit work, quarterly newsletters, advice and advocacy.

If you are interested in purchasing any of these artists' works, or if you would like more information on Visual AIDS, call (212) 627-9855, or e-mail them.

All artists with HIV/AIDS are welcome to join the Visual AIDS Archive (estates may join on an artist's behalf).

All images are the property of the artist and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the artist and Visual AIDS.

Visual AIDS is funded through grants and through the support of people like you.

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