The 35th annual “Black Doll Show” runs through Saturday, Feb. 13 at The William Grant Still Arts Center. The show has welcomed guest curator and doll collector Dr. Cynthia Davis, a 35-year public health advocate and educator assisting individuals and communities affected by HIV/AIDS. Davis currently serves as chair of AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s (AHF) Board of Directors.

This year’s show, titled “Trench Art Retrospective: The War Against HIV/AIDS-Women of the African Diaspora in the Trenches,” includes approximately 200 dolls and sculptures, a sampling of community-created handmade dolls from Davis’ Dolls of Hope Project, artist-designed altars and quilts, including a section of the NAMES Project Foundation’s AIDS Memorial Quilt on loan from Atlanta, Georgia.

“I started the Dolls of Hope Project as a World AIDS Day activity in 1998,” Davis said. “This project involves volunteers making handmade cloth dolls for HIV/AIDS orphans and/or children, youth and women impacted by HIV/AIDS or in need. I have conducted Dolls of Hope workshops around the world including in Durban, South Africa, Bangkok, Thailand, Havana, Cuba and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Over 6,000 Dolls of Hope have been distributed nationally and globally to children and youth in need. These workshops have been used not only to make the dolls, but to educate women and youth about their risk for HIV infection and to break the ‘silence and stigma’ surrounding HIV/AIDS in affected communities – especially racial/ethnic minority communities.”

The exhibit highlights the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic domestically and globally on women of color with a timeline, photographic documentation and murals depicting key moments during the past 35 years. The goal is to empower people beyond stigma and shame and break the silence around HIV/AIDS. Participating artists and collectors include Floyd Bell, Stormy Weather, Ingrid Humphrey, Gary Jones, Allyson Allen, Cynthia Davis, Bernard Hoyes, Ramsess, Ofelia Esparza, Joey Terrill and Mary Kimbrough. Dolls and altars were also contributed by clients at the residential substance abuse shelters His Sheltering Arms and the Alcoholism Center for Women.

“We’re so excited to see the collection that Dr. Davis has put together,” said Christopher Johnson, chairman of the AHF Black AIDS Crisis Taskforce. “Having a chance to see the intricacies of these handmade dolls in person – and knowing the inspiring backstory of this collection – will be an experience I know people will be talking about for some time.”

The William Grant Still Arts Center is located at 2520 W. View St. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.

AHF is the largest global AIDS organization, currently providing medical care and services to over 500,000 individuals in 36 countries worldwide. For information, visit www.aidshealth.org.