University Museums and downtown Ames went without art Thursday, bringing attention to the large number of Americans, particularly those in the artistic community, who live with or have died from HIV or AIDS.

Students and community members shrouded works of art on public display in Ames in recognition of World AIDS Day.

Pam Carnine, HIV/STD educator for Youth and Shelter Services, an Ames-based nonprofit organization, said the day without art was meant to honor those who have lost their lives to the virus.

“It’s a way of visually demonstrating the loss and honoring people who have died of AIDS,” she said.

Carnine said Gumby’s Pizza, 526 Main St., put fliers on all of the pizza boxes it delivered Thursday in an attempt to raise awareness of the observance. Gumby’s delivery drivers also had the option of handing out free condoms along with their pizza deliveries, she said.

“It’s really neat,” she said of the effort. “People always seem to be supportive of raising awareness in that way.” Other events that took place included the display of 100 red ribbons on Central Campus, signifying the number of Iowans diagnosed with HIV every year.

Jeanne Lehmkuhl, health promotions coordinator in prevention, education and outreach at Thielen Student Health Center, said red ribbons were also passed out to the 25 to 30 people who attended the lecture in which two people with AIDS spoke Wednesday night.

“It went well,” she said. “Attendance wasn’t what we would have expected.”

One of the moments during the lecture that struck her hard was when Clifford Gentry, senior in interior design and one of the two speakers with AIDS, said he took 46 pills a day. Gentry also has Crohn’s disease.

Carnine said she hopes the observances in Ames will encourage citizens to take a more active role in supporting those affected by Ames.

“I think as a culture, we’ve started to become complacent,” she said.