NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt

Aids Quilt

NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt is a monumental piece of community folk art and a poignant memorial dedicated to the lives lost to the AIDS pandemic. Conceived in 1985 by activist Cleve Jones during a candlelight march in memory of Harvey Milk and George Moscone, the quilt has since grown into an international symbol of the AIDS crisis, serving both as a tool for awareness and an artifact of remembrance.

History

The idea for the quilt was inspired by the sight of the San Francisco Federal Building covered in placards bearing the names of those who had died from AIDS. This visual struck Jones, leading him to propose a project that would create a memorial for those who had died from AIDS, while simultaneously helping people understand the devastating impact of the disease. The first panel was created in memory of Marvin Feldman, a friend of Jones. The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt was officially unveiled on October 11, 1987, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., covering a space larger than a football field. At that time, it included 1,920 panels. As the quilt returned to San Francisco, it was displayed at the San Francisco City Hall, marking the beginning of a nationwide tour.

Significance and Impact

The quilt has since become a powerful visual representation and memorial, growing with each name added, symbolizing the vast number of lives affected by AIDS. Each panel, measuring approximately 3 feet by 6 feet (about the size of a human grave), is created by friends, lovers, or family members of a person who has died of AIDS. The act of creating a panel serves as a process of grieving and healing for those left behind.

The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt has been displayed in its entirety in Washington, D.C., several times, with the most recent display covering the entire National Mall. It is now too large to be displayed in one piece and is shown in sections across the world. The quilt serves as a fundraiser for AIDS service organizations, a means of increasing public awareness of AIDS, and a unique tool for education about the disease.

Structure and Organization

The quilt is managed by the NAMES Project Foundation, which oversees the care of the quilt, organizes displays, and facilitates the creation of new panels. The foundation also works to preserve the stories of those memorialized in the quilt, ensuring that the lives behind the numbers are remembered and honored.

Cultural Impact

The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt has had a significant impact on culture and society. It has been featured in numerous documentaries, books, and academic studies, serving as a subject of analysis in discussions about art, activism, and the social response to the AIDS crisis. The quilt has also influenced the creation of other memorial quilts and similar projects around the world, highlighting the power of communal art in the process of mourning and activism.

See Also

• AIDS pandemic
• Cleve Jones
• Activism
• Memorial