Blending AIDS Awareness, Art for a Day : The Events: O.C. institutions’ programs will remember those who have died of the disease and will try to raise funds for research.

Imagine no museums, no concerts, no plays, no dance. That’s what A Day Without Art is designed to make you do. On Wednesday, thousands of institutions around the world will take part in the observance commemorating those who have died of AIDS in the especially hard-hit world of the arts. Some participants will cloak artworks; others will stage special programs to heighten AIDS awareness and/or raise money for AIDS groups.

The following activities are taking place in Orange County, on Wednesday unless otherwise noted:

* Noon to 1:30 p.m.: “Vital Readings,� music and readings of AIDS-related fiction, poetry and news stories, will be staged by South Coast Repertory literary manager John Glore at SCR, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. The program will start with a performance by members of the Pacific Symphony and will continue with songs from members of Opera Pacific, the Pacific Chorale and the Master Chorale of Orange County, and the readings by SCR resident and guest artists. Patrons may bring lunches to eat inside the theater. Free, but a $10 donation is suggested to benefit AIDS Walk Orange County and AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County. Two hours free parking with validation at Town Center and Park Center drives. (714) 957-2602, Ext. 261.

* Noon: Artist Leslie Ernst of Los Angeles will lecture on her work, which focuses on women and AIDS, at the UC Irvine Fine Arts Gallery on the UCI campus near Bridge and Mesa roads. “The AIDS Show: Community Responses to a Crisis,� a non-juried exhibit of works in all media solicited from the community, opens today at the gallery and will continue through Dec. 11 (noon to 5 p.m.; closed Sundays and Mondays). Admission to the lecture and the exhibit are free. (714) 856-6610.

* 3 to 4 p.m.: “Artists Respond to AIDS,� a panel discussion with Lilla LoCurto and William Outcault (who created “Self-Portrait,� an AIDS-related installation at the museum) and video artist Ed. de la Torre will take place at the Newport Harbor Art Museum, 850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach, where an audio piece called “Every Ten Minutes� and a photographic work and informational broadside by Barbara Kruger (see related story) also will be installed. In lieu of admission, donations will be collected for the AIDS Response Program. (714) 759-1122.

* 7 p.m.: “Encore: Dance on a Star,� an AIDS-related performance/music piece, will be staged by Molly Hardy Productions at the Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach. Free with regular museum admission ($3 for adults, $1.50 for seniors and students). Throughout the day at the museum, a list of arts professionals who have died from AIDS (published by Visual AIDS, a group based in New York) will be posted in the front windows and red ribbons, which are symbols of AIDS awareness, and AIDS literature will be distributed. (714) 494-8971.

* 7:30 p.m.: Ann Patrick-Green, Aimee Grodsky and Greg Adamson will present “Impact,� a program of classical and contemporary music, at the Fullerton Museum Center, 301 N. Pomona Ave., Fullerton. The program will be followed by a talk by Clairee Tyne, a Placentia resident who lost her son to AIDS. A large panel of the International AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on view. $5, all proceeds benefit AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County. (714) 738-6545.

* 8 p.m. tonight and Monday: “Son of Lagunatics,� an original revue spoofing life in Laguna Beach, will be staged at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. $50, benefits Laguna Shanti, an AIDS service organization, and Ballet Pacifica, which lost its costumes and sets in the Laguna fire. A silent auction will precede each performance, at 7 p.m. (714) 497-9244.

* The Main Art Gallery at Cal State Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, and the Orange Coast College Art Gallery, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, will be closed for the day in commemoration. However, at CSUF, “HIV-AIDS: Aiditive Art� by students and faculty members will be on view from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Room 160 of the Visual Arts building, and students will be presenting performance art in the Performing Arts building lobby. (714) 773-3253. At OCC, the gallery’s annual “Artists’s Reflection on AIDS� group show will resume Thursday and will continue through Dec. 16 (10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 2, 6 and 16). Free. (714) 432-5039.

Elsewhere, the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, will post a large sign explaining A Day Without Art and staff members will wear red ribbons, and donations for ASF/OC will be taken at the Works Gallery in the Crystal Court mall, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa.