On Wednesday, December 13, over a dozen Poz artists, performers, and DJs will gather for the 18+ event Viral Illumiation, hosted by beloved RDR fan fave Ongina with shows from Saturn Rising, Juice Boxx, and Daphne Von Rey; art installations by Ben Cuevas, John Moletress, Other Half LA, Leo Hererra, Danimal and Xena Ellison; music by DJ’s Mike Etc. and Victor Rodriguez, with a percentage of proceeds benefitting the Sero Project. The event also features a group healing and general wellness talk by the fabulous Domonique Echeverria of Universal Mother. The party celebrates poz artists and allies working at the intersection of art, culture, and activism to build a world that works towards abolishing HIV stigma and builds opportunities for people to learn, empower one another and cultivate joy.
From the press release:
Los Angeles (November 27, 2017) – Over a dozen LA-based, HIV-positive artists and allies working at the intersection of art, culture and activism are coming together on December 13 at Navel LA from 8pm-12am to build a world that transforms HIV stigma through VIRAL ILLUMINATION, a new event concept that aims to amplify the voices of those living with and impacted by HIV/AIDS. Created by serodiscordant couple, Vasilios Papapitsios, an HIV-positive artist and advocate (HIV/IRL) and Elijah McKinnon, a cultural producer and LGBTQ advodate (PeopleWho.Care), VIRAL ILLUMINATION is an event they’ve co-curated to celebrate HIV-positive artists, performers, community members, and allies that that are changing the way we think about HIV/AIDS, sex, intimacy and pleasure.
For one night only, the duo is bringing together an eclectic cast for an evening hosted by Ongina from Rupual’s Drag Race and host of HIV+ME on Logo TV; performances by Saturn Rising, Juiceboxx and Daphne Von Rey; art installations by Ben Cuevas, John Moletress, Other Half LA, Leo Hererra, Danimal and Xena Ellison; music by DJ’s Mike Etc., Victor Rodriguez, Bae Bae and more from artists, advocates and disrupters working to destigmatize HIV, uplift pleasure and champion underrepresented narratives.
With a core team of cultural luminaries and creative laborers coming together to challenge, confront and provoke what it means to “go viral’, VIRAL ILLUMINATION proposes the following food for thought: EVERYONE WANTS TO GO VIRAL BUT NO ONE WANTS TO BE VIRAL. Both Pap and Mckinnon hope to continue to find new ways to support HIV-positive and HIV-allied perspectives through community building opportunities that provide space for people to heal, cultivate joy and learn. VIRAL ILLUMINATION is presented in partnership with INTO, Navel LA, Crystal Head Vodka and Visual AIDS. A percentage of proceeds raised will benefit the Sero Project, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting inappropriate criminal prosecutions of people living with HIV and fights for freedom from stigma and injustice.
Event Details:
Viral Illumination 001
Date/Time: Wed, December 13 | 8pm-12a
Location: Navel LA | 1611 S Hope St, Los Angeles
Tickets: FREE with RSVP here
Facebook Event Page + Updates: https://www.facebook.com/events/1979970865610321/
18+
WHAT IS VIRAL ILLUMINATION?
VIRAL ILLUMINATION is a new event concept created to celebrate poz artists and allies working at the intersection of art, culture and activism to build a world that works towards abolishing HIV stigma and builds opportunities for people to learn, empower one another and cultivate joy.
Now more than ever it’s important that we come together to create a future that allows us to build and learn from one another’s journey. For one night only, join us for an evening of performances, installations, music and more from artists, advocates and disrupters working to destigmatize HIV, uplift pleasure and champion underrepresented narratives. VIRAL ILLUMINATION also functions as a fundraiser for the Sero Project, which fights inappropriate criminal prosecutions of people living with HIV and fights for freedom from stigma and injustice.
