CITY ARTS : Artistic Memorial

“A Day Without Art” sounds antithetical to a festive event, but in fact it is a distinctly artistic observance of a sobering fact of life in the 1990s: AIDS.

Staged by the Otis Parsons College of Art and Design, the event Wednesday is intended to bring together students, faculty members, artists and residents in recognizing the importance of AIDS prevention while memorializing the devastating loss of life caused by the disease.

Thus,” A Day Without Art”--the day artists put aside their personal endeavors for the sake of AIDS recognition--will feature a series of performances, videotapes, and condom and ribbon distribution in the Westlake neighborhood surrounding the college. Several events, including works by performance artist Marcus Kuiland/Nazarrio and writer Ruben Martinez, will take place in nearby MacArthur Park.

The school is also inviting the public to contribute to “The Remembering,” an exhibit of letters, photographs, artwork, writings and other mementos of lost loved ones that will run on campus through Dec. 15. Student artworks will be draped in black in observance of the event, and most campus galleries will be closed. A mobile HIV testing unit will be available from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for anyone seeking counseling and/or testing.

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“A Day Without Art,” Otis Parsons College of Art and Design, 2401 Wilshire Blvd., Westlake; Wednesday; performances 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in MacArthur Park.