Art & Global Health Center Curator Interviews

This oral-history collection brings together interviews conducted by David Gere with curators and artists Carol Brown, Carol Hofmeyr, Stan Pressner, and Adriana Bertini. Recorded from 2024 to 2026, the conversations document the development of HIV/AIDS-focused art and exhibitions…

Files	10 files
Date	2024–2026
Venue	Online
Curator	David Gere
Organized by	UCLA Art & Global Health Center
Link	UCLA Art & Global Health Center — official website

Transcript	Transcript
Item Title	Interview with Carol Brown and Stan Pressner: The Art of Curation
General Date	2025
Precise Date	2025-05-13
Resource Type	Video
Description	This 2025 conversation reunites co-curators David Gere, Carol Brown, and Stan Pressner to discuss the architectural and emotional design of the Through Positive Eyes exhibition. Spanning several years and global venues—including Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Los Angeles—the project sought to dismantle HIV/AIDS stigma through a highly specific curatorial strategy. The curators detail how they moved beyond standard photography to create an environment of liminality, a state where visitors could shed old prejudices and adopt new perspectives. Pressner, a theater designer, describes using light and sound to pull images off the wall, while Brown emphasizes the inclusion of three-dimensional objects to ground the digital storytelling in physicality. The dialogue highlights the Banishing Stigma Room as a central intervention where the boundaries between observer and subject were intentionally blurred. By incorporating red beanbag chairs for informal seating and utilizing artivists—HIV-positive individuals who shared seven-minute live monologues—the space functioned as a theater for radical empathy. Gere notes the profound impact of this setup, citing the 1,200 handwritten responses from UCLA visitors that recorded a transition from fear to compassion. This collaborative effort demonstrates that the physical layout of a museum can serve as a catalyst for social change. Looking ahead to 2031, the group envisions a new iteration of the show to mark the 50th anniversary of the pandemic’s beginning.
Subjects	HIV, AIDS, Art, Activism, Oral History
Medium	Photography
Period	Contemporary
Work Type	Interview documentation
Location	Online
Holding Institution	UCLA Art & Global Health Center
Holding Institution URL	https://artglobalhealth.org/
Rights	CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Metadata Provided By	UCLA Art & Global Health Center
Interviewees	Carol Brown, Stan Pressner
Interviewer	David Gere

Art & Global Health Center Curator Interviews

David Gere and Carol Brown

David Gere, Carol Brown, and Carol Hofmeyr

David Gere and Carol Brown

David Gere, Carol Brown, and Stan Pressner

David Gere and Adriana Bertini