Fourteenth International Conference on the Arts in Society

Abstract

“Women, ART, and the Criminalization of HIV” (WATCH), is a community arts based research study investigating the multiple ways that the criminalization of HIV non-disclosure impacts women living with HIV across Canada. Body Mapping workshops took place in three Canadian provinces where participants were guided through a series of visual art exercises accompanied by an end of day sharing circle. Participants expressed their life journeys through drawing and painting, and chose colours, symbols, and words to communicate their experiences. The Body Maps stimulated possibilities for personal growth and transformation, and catalyzed dialogue about individual, communal, and structural issues. As part of our commitment to addressing social justice issues through arts based research, we included an arts based knowledge translation (ABKT) process during and following each workshop in two critical ways. First, we incorporated art making for the purpose of providing legal education and support to workshop participants. Second, we curated provincial, national and international Body Map Art Galleries to raise awareness about the personal, political, legal and social issues affecting the women and their communities. The Body Map galleries visually reflected the diversity of the women’s social positionings, identities, and strengths, and the complexity surrounding HIV disclosure to sexual partners. This presentation will describe our approach to Body Mapping research, ABKT and knowledge mobilization. We will demonstrate the potential to use Body Maps as an innovative and effective approach to addressing social injustices through garnering the attention of legal advocates, health and social care policy leaders, and the general public.