Today marks the observance of A Day Without Art/World AIDS Day, and many groups in central Iowa are organizing events to increase awareness of AIDS.

The Brunnier Art Museum will host a special Big Brain Cafe program at 7 p.m.

“We plan on having some HIV-positive people from central Iowa discuss how AIDS has affected their lives,” said Pam Carnine, director of the AIDS Coalition. “It is important for people to know that this disease can happen to anybody.”

Scheduled to speak at the event is a woman named Shelly who has been in a monogamous relationship but was infected with the AIDS virus by her partner, who got it from a previous relationship. She will be accompanied by her 6-year-old son who is HIV-negative.

“Anyone who has a 6-year-old knows how hard it is to take care of them, but imagine if you’re immune system is shot and you’re still trying to raise one,” Carnine said.

An activity is scheduled called “Test-tube Sex,” which shows how fluids are exchanged.

“We want to show how fast AIDS can spread within a small group,” Carnine said. “And we want to show that the disease is not passed from one to one to one but from one to two to five to thirty.”

The Big Brain Cafe program is sponsored by University Museums in conjunction with the AIDS Coalition of Story County.

A Day Without Art is a long-standing international tradition in which different pieces of art are covered up to represent what the AIDS virus does to a community.

It is a day of mourning and action in response to the AIDS crisis. Started in 1989 by New York artists, the day is designed to expand awareness and encourage discussions of AIDS-related issues, especially the impact of AIDS in the art world, a press release said.

Art is a part of the community, and when it is suddenly not there, it helps people understand what affect that has on society, just like when people with the AIDS virus die.

ISU students will help the University Museums staff shroud selected campus works of art.

In addition to these programs, the Des Moines Art Center is also hosting several activities.

A program titled “A Day in the Life…” will be held today with Joan Lawrence, director of the AIDS Project of Central Iowa, and other speakers recounting a day in their lives dealing with HIV and AIDS.

Also today, a free teen workshop on HIV/AIDS-activist art will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Art Center.

Throughout this week, a series of HIV/AIDS-related work by Pella artist Tilly Woodward will be on display in the lobby of the Art Center.

For more information, contact University Museums at 294-3342.