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Poetter Hall was purchased by the SCAD founders in March 1979. Classes began in September of that year.  
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The Arts

Exhibition tells stories of AIDS

“Don’t Worry” by professor David Foote

“Don’t Worry” is part of professor David Foote’s M.F.A. thesis show “From the Front” and is on display at Bergen Hall through May 21.

By Hannah Pittard
Published: Friday, May 2, 2003

Recent-alumnus-turned-professor David Foote addresses the consequences of AIDS and its broad effects on real people in his thesis exhibition, “From the Front: Visual Interpretations of the AIDS Epidemic.”

“Considering the fact that over half of all new HIV infections are people 25 years old or younger, and combined with the fact that I was creating a show where I could reach that target demographic, my idea was to create awareness and education that could speak rather than preach to that young, high-risk, college-aged audience,” said Foote.

Wanting to avoid a show whose overarching tone was a sanctimonious diatribe on the merits of safe sex, Foote chose to rely on his experiences and the experiences of those close to him to create this exhibition’s potency.

“I didn’t want the show to be ‘all about my experiences.’ I felt, in order to reach a broader audience, it was important to have a variety of stories,” said Foote.

Collaborating directly with seven friends and indirectly with several others, Foote fashioned an exhibition whose stories include those of people with HIV, caregivers of HIV victims and people who have lost loved ones as the result of the epidemic.

“I know it won’t be the ‘feel-good’ show of the year,” said Foote, who hopes instead that it will create awareness. “I wanted to tell my story and the stories of a few very close friends with the intent that it could have an awareness and educational effect on the viewer in a … subtle way.”

Foote, who was originally attracted to the college because of its diverse students, majors and resources, was asked to stay on as a professor after graduating last year with an M.F.A. degree in graphic design. “I was comfortable here and knew that I could benefit as a new teacher from the knowledge of so many fellow faculty members,” said Foote. “I hate being pigeon-holed as anything specific (i.e., painter, photographer, designer, etc.). It is all visual expression and communication, and I think this show represents that.”

“From the Front” is on display at Bergen Hall Gallery, 101 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., through May 21.