We Scream Your Name : an Event for World AIDS Day @ Highways Performance Space

Highways Performance Space is Southern California’s boldest center for new performance, film and visual art. It is an important alternative cultural center in Los Angeles that encourages radical artists from diverse communities to develop and present innovative new works. 

It is about re-opens its doors to the public with a free live event in recognition of World AIDS Day, featuring remembrance, blessings, community, and a special guest performer. The event’s title, We Scream Your Name, is a reference to a diary entrance, “Scream my name.” by artist Kosta Pappas, who died in 1989 at age 35 due to AIDS complications.

Through this event, Highways is honored to provide an opportunity for you to remember your family, friends, and colleagues who have died of AIDS. Feel free to inhabit Highways by stepping into the performance space and take the time to contemplate and revere in silence or raise your voice to shout, sing or scream their name(s). Feel free to ACT UP and act out with your friends or on your own. Share a performance, read a passage, or perform a song anytime between noon and 10 pm. Highways also invites you to help re-ink/paint the current and faded names on Highways’ AIDS Memorial Floor(installed in June 1989) of those lost to AIDS or to add those names you’d like to include.

At 1 pm, special guest performer, acclaimed award-winning artist, and activist Michael Kearns will share excerpts from his legendary work Intimacies, which he presented at Highways in 1989. His reading will be live-streamed on Highways’ Facebook page @highwaysperformance, for those unable to attend.