Photo exhibit fosters global activism

In a collaborative effort to encourage discussion about public and global health, faculty and students are sponsoring a photo exhibit that opens today.

UCLA’s World Arts and Cultures Department, the UCLA Art and Global Health Center, and the UCLA School of Public Health Reproductive Health Interest Group are sponsoring “On the Same Map: A Photo Exhibition Celebrating Partners in Health’s 20 Years of Health and Social Justice,” an art show opening today. The show represents a bridging of interests, and the message of the exhibit is conveyed by the power of art to teach and inspire, said David Gere, associate professor of World Arts and Cultures and director of the UCLA Art and Global Health Center.

“The process of planning the exhibit has been a great collaboration between graduate and undergraduate students from different departments from both North and South Campus, and faculty and staff,” said Devan Jaganath, a first-year medical student at UCLA.

Jaganath saw the exhibition last year at Harvard University when he was applying to medical schools. He said he was inspired by the exhibit, and upon his arrival at UCLA he approached Gere with the idea of bringing the art show to the UCLA community.

“This exhibit is just the beginning of a mainstream movement of events centered around public health awareness on campus,” said Mark Dakkak, a third-year math and economics student.

The presentation displays the work of Partners in Health, a Boston-based, nonprofit cofounded by physician and medical anthropologist Paul Farmer.

The organization works to combat diseases such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis and supports access to health care for poor communities around the world, Jaganath said.

“The event is not just an exhibition, but a larger project that will hopefully spark global activism on campus,” Gere said.

Jaganath said the photographs are very inspiring and display the importance of volunteering and global activism.

Bobby Gordon, the Outreach and Project Coordinator for the UCLA Art and Global Health Center, said the portraits in the exhibit inspire activism and community involvement.

“We are all part of the same global community and people in our global community need help; the exhibit makes it impossible to ignore that message,” said Gordon, a recent UCLA graduate and former Daily Bruin Sports editor.

A keynote address by UCLA professor Carole Browner will be held today at 6 p.m. in Kaufman Hall, Room 208, Jaganath said. This will be followed by an exhibition viewing and reception from 7 to 9 p.m.

The exhibit runs through June 12, and is located on the first and second floors of Glorya Kaufman Hall. It is open to the public from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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