Distributed for 2011 World AIDS Day/Day With(out) Art by Visual AIDS

Running time: 60 minutes

Invited in 2010 to lecture on the billboard project of Felix Gonzalez‐Torres at San Antonio’s ArtPace, Jim Hodges joined forces with filmmakers Carlos Marques da Cruz and Encke King to build a non‐linear montage of archival and pop footage. Conjuring up the passionate activism sparked by the early years of the AIDS crisis and unspooling at multiple levels, the narrative flies between scenes of tragic brutality and kitschy humor, arch clips of laughter and ironic surprises while shredding traditional chronology. By juxtaposing fractious scenes from the last few turbulent decades, Untitled presents a powerful and provocative reflection on an era when political protest and personal existence converged. At the same time, the film draws history nearer by representing the pressure and hopelessness created by regimes of power from New York to Los Angeles, New Orleans to Guantánamo, and beyond, and the brave women and men who in times of crisis stood up for themselves, for their communities, and for humanity.

Jim Hodges has created a broad range of work exploring themes of fragility, temporality, love, and death in a highly original and poetic vocabulary. His works frequently deploy different materials and techniques: from readymade objects to traditional media, such as graphite and ink. He has been the subject of many solo exhibitions in the United States and Europe and has been included in numerous group exhibitions, including the 2004 Whitney Biennial. He currently lives and works in New York City.

Carlos Marques da Cruz works with artists, performers, and filmmakers in Lisbon, Paris, Venice, Rome, Genoa, Spoleto, Naples, Milan, Palermo, Madrid, Brussels, London, and New York.

Encke King is a film and video producer, editor, and writer based in New York.

Visual AIDS utilizes art to fight AIDS by provoking dialogue, supporting HIV+ artists, and preserving a legacy for a continuing issue. Visual AIDS is the only contemporary arts organization fully committed to HIV prevention and AIDS awareness through producing and presenting visual art projects, while assisting artists living with HIV/AIDS.

Day With(out)Art was founded by Visual AIDS in 1989 as a day of action and remembrance. Since then, museums, galleries, schools, universities, cultural and grassroots organizations have observed December 1/ World AIDS Day with programs, exhibitions, and discussions about HIV/AIDS.