RATTLESNAKE IN A MOVING CAR: LIFE WITH HIV
by Artist Rob Anderson gives a human face and a heartfelt voice to the circumstances of being a longtime HIV-positive.

It is the mission of Rattlesnake in a Moving Car to enhance public understanding of the complexities of being a longtime HIV positive as a way of keeping HIV and AIDS in the public consciousness.

The title is inspired by one project participant who compares living with HIV to driving with a rattlesnake in the car.  The challenge is to keep it in the passenger seat where it won’t cause harm.

Rob Anderson, Clinic Study participant, artist, and internationally known HIV spokesperson, presents the stories of twenty men and women who have been successfully keeping the “rattlesnake” at bay.

These positive voices, all longtime HIV survivors participating in research studies, communicate a message of hope and survival. As he records their oral histories, Anderson draws their portraits.

An abstract metal sculpture links the portraits as a visual symbol for both the common journey and the individual path each of these survivors has taken in response to the powerful potential of HIV to rule their lives.

Rattlesnake in a Moving Car is a work in progress. This site is dedicated to informing the public about the project with news articles and updates on production, exhibition dates, and donor opportunities.

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Rattlesnake in a Moving Car: Life with HIV is a project of the San Francisco Public Health Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) foundation, and Picture Room Productions.