When first entering white columns, I was immediately struck by the strong emotional quotes on the wall. “If he were still alive today he would sit you on his lap.” “If she were alive today you would be so her type.” These messages were printed on long sheets of white paper and were attached to the walls with blue tape, perhaps to stick out among the pure white walls. Sitting in front of this wall were stacks of paper, with the lyrics to Sister Sledge’s “We are family.” I thought I understood the message they were trying to send: Though I personally do not know someone who died from AIDS, there is someone out there who has, and we are all family. I was expecting the rest of the exhibit to be just as emotional and touching. I was far from correct.

The next room was full of ten to twenty screens. I had no idea where to begin. I arbitrarily picked a screen and felt as though I was eavesdropping in on the middle of someone else’s conversation. I did not know what was going on and I did not belong. What I did get from that conversation was there was some sort of falling out between ACT UP, an organization dedicated to the cause of AIDS awareness, prevention and research, and another organization with the same cause.

I was in many ways confused. I did not know who was speaking.  I was not sure what he was speaking about. What happened to the emotional journey I was expecting when I first entered?

I quickly moved on to a room with yet another video. This next video was about female AIDS activists who were arrested while protesting. These women were strip searched even though it was quite obvious that they were unarmed. I found the movie to be interesting, and a good way to see what kind of AIDS activism existed.

The next few rooms more full of numerous posters and signs, with heavy language and vulgar pictures. One thing that specifically stood out was, “Silence=Death.” I could only assume the context and message of these posters.

Overall, White Columns, lacked a lot of necessary information in order to make the exhibit as effective as possible. At least to an audience brought up in the 90’s.