The Arts Initiative presents a panel discussion with the exhibition, Open This End: Contemporary Art from the Collection of Blake Byrne featuring a collection of work from renowned artists spanning the past 50 years, including works by Andy Warhol, Gerhard Richter, Mike Kelley, David Hammons, Tony Smith, and many others. The exhibition includes a number of pieces that respond and reflect the political and social issues of their time, including the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Artists, such as Felix Gonzalez-Torres, addressed controversies surrounding homosexuality and the AIDS crisis in the early 1990s. This panel examines the progress of HIV/AIDS research, and explores the issue from multiple social perspectives.

Panel discussion featuring:

- Michael Para MD, Department of Infectious Diseases and leader in HIV research

- Joseph Wolin, Open This End curator

- Joel Diaz, Chief Marketing & Community Affairs Officer for the AIDS Resource Center

- Garett Heysel, Assistant Dean and President of Scarlet & Gay Alumni Society