Images of African representation in public health campaigns

“A Choreography of Contagion” is on display through Dec. 18.

An exhibition that explores how people of African descent have been represented in public health campaigns is displayed in the African American Cultural Center through Dec. 18.

The exhibition, “A Choreography of Contagion: Absence and Presence of Black Bodies in Public Health Campaigns,” is presented by the center in collaboration with the School of Public Health’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

“A Choreography of Contagion” features a collage of early 20th century newspaper prints and images from private institutions, health journals and popular media. Connecting the past with the present, the exhibit includes examples of modern health campaigns for global epidemics from cholera to Ebola and HIV/AIDS to malaria.

The installation uses visual arts and dance concepts and epidemiological terms to highlight how metaphors, images and symbols convey complex meanings.

The exhibit includes reproductions of rare photographs from the Provident Hospital archival collection at Chicago State University, images from the Tuskegee syphilis experiments and examples of contemporary social media outreach.

“A Choreography of Contagion” is curated by Mario LaMothe, postdoctoral associate at Duke University, and designed by Sarah Sommers Design. The exhibit was commissioned by Lori Barcliff Baptista, director of the center and faculty member in museum and exhibition studies, with the support of Ebbin Dotson, assistant dean of urban health and diversity programs and assistant professor of community health sciences.

Admission is free and open to the public in 200 Addams Hall. Hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Group and guided tours can be scheduled Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-noon.

For more information, call 312-996-9549.