It was during the early 1990's that Illinois State University found itself the focus of the nations culture wars. David Wojnarowicz had a display at the University Galleries that depicted the apathy he perceived as AIDS continued to spread. Barry Blinderman is the Director of the Galleries. He says he wasn't prepared for the outcry against the artist's work.
Blinderman is helping mark World Aids Day Tomorrow with a noon talk he calls “Fires in Their Bellies: Keith Haring, David Wojnarowicz and the 80s-90s Culture Wars.” It's sponsored by the Prairie Pride Coalition. He says in years past some artwork has been draped in black to mark the day. Blinderman says there are countless works of art the world will never see because of the AIDS epidemic.