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vibe of the portfolio

Blooming Artists
Public Art Showcase

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the venue

Hardy & Nance Studios |
Memorial Hermann -
Texas Medical Center

the vibes

The project

Iconic ACT UP imagery, Ian's favorite flowers and colors

A photojournal of Ian's experience in an HIV cure-seeking medical trial

"Ian & Clinical Trial A5374"

I'd been wanting to collaborate with Ian on a storytelling project ever since I met him, so when the Blooming Artists showcase grant came along, I pitched my openly HIV-positive friend/fellow florist on the idea of using flowers and photography to document the emotional experience (with its tangled threads of both anxiety and hope) as he put his body and health on the line for the sake of medical research trial A5374. Never one to shy away from stigma-breaking advocacy, Ian has always been vocal about both his status and his treatment journey online, in hopes that such openness will pave the way for other queer folks and people living with HIV/AIDS to feel seen, dissolve shame narratives, and know that they had options and community that could be just a DM away. As the first active participant in a treatment that required him to go off his current suppressive medication regime (Biktarvy) and undertake several months-long waiting periods before receiving any indication of whether or not the experimental treatment was working, Ian had the eyes of the global infectious disease research community on him throughout the study; a factor that increased the pressure to be a good patient, and emphasized that the stakes transcended his own personal health outcomes.

THE lore:

the project details

This project was made possible by the Blooming Artists summer-long workshop for emergent photographers (i.e., artists new to the medium), created and led by the good people at Reel Quick Film Labs, and funded by the Houston Arts Alliance. As one of the featured artists chosen for the program, I developed the storytelling approach to this project with feedback from a small group of other artists, and learned the technical skills needed to shoot the photos (both 35mm film and DSLR) from the program facilitators. The resulting visual collage followed Ian through a treatment day at Memorial Hermann hospital, and also through a debriefing day in my floral studio where we talked and designed with flowers--the creative medium we both work in full-time. For our visual direction we drew heavily on the symbolism of the pink triangle: a mark reclaimed from its original use (in Nazi concentration camps to identify gay men) by activists with ACT UP (Aids Coalition to Unleash Power) for their "silence=death" awareness campaign. It is used today as a token of resilience and pride, and is dear to Ian's heart.

the breif

the collaborators

telling stories is literally why i'm in this. and where i want to take mood [floral]. sharing flowers has been a coping mechanism for me both in getting out of houselessness and being diagnosed hiv.

“I’m grateful for the queer people who survived and didn’t let this be forgotten. Grateful for the queer people who fought for accessible healthcare so no one would have to worry about affording this.” This project is dedicated to all those who have ever advocated for higher standards of care for queer and HIV-positive people. With hope for a favorable trial outcome and for Ian’s status to change to “cured,” we present this piece as a jointly-written love note to the worldwide community of people who are living with the virus. Keep taking care of each other. Life-changing vaccines may be here soon. “For those living with HIV or know someone living with HIV and struggling with it, know that you aren’t alone and you have a supporter in me. Reach out whenever for whatever.” @moodbyian

ian lehmann

Hi, I’m Hannah — florist, folklore enthusiast, and your local moss goblin with a penchant for logistics planning

I run Edges Wild Studio, a one-woman floral design house where story, art, and botany meet. Whether you're planning a wedding that feels more like a spell than a ceremony or building an immersive brand campaign that needs a wild world to hold it in, I'm your gal. My work blends myth and material together, through meticulous planning, sharp creative instincts, and the occasional zip tie. I have a wealth of experience in weddings, editorial shoots, public art, brand launches, and many weirdly wonderful one-offs. I specialize in taking your vision (even the half-formed and too-strange-for-Pinterest) and giving it tactile, visual form that people remember. I would love to hear from you if you're ready to create something unrepeatable, unexpected, and intensely alive!