A quilt is often shorthand for old-fashioned values: a cozy home, generational connections, handmade love. That’s why, in 1985, gay rights activist Cleve Jones saw it as the perfect vehicle for remembering those who had died of AIDS. When the disease appeared in the United States, it was considered mysterious and shameful, an untreatable illness thought to be passed only between gay men. The toll AIDS took on the gay community was swift and mighty, and as Jones saw friends and neighbors die, he worried that shame would keep them from being openly remembered. At a rally honoring slain San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk, cardboard placards posted on a a wall with the names of those lost to AIDS reminded Jones of a quilt. In 1986, he made the first panel of the AIDS Memorial Quilt to honor his friend, Marvin Feldman, and encouraged others to do the same, subverting the time-honored form into visual evidence that individuals who led “nontraditional” lives were well-loved by their friends, family, and community. The project grew, and in 1987, the NAMES Project Foundation was formed to support the growing quilt, increase awareness of AIDS and HIV, and raise funds for community-based AIDS service organizations. In 1987, the AIDS Memorial Quilt’s 1,920 panels went on display on Washington’s National Mall.
This week, from July 21 to 25, the quilt is again appearing on the National Mall. In 1987, the quilt covered a football field-sized piece of land; today, if laid out in its entirety, the quilt’s 48,000 panels would blanket 29 acres. 4,800 panels will be on display at more than 50 locations throughout the DC area, and volunteers will rotate 35,200 panels — 8,800 different panels each day — on the Mall during the five-day span.
The AIDS Memorial Quilt weighs 54 tons and is the largest collaborative art project in the world, as well as the largest living memorial. It’s been declared a national treasure, was nominated in 1989 for a Nobel Peace Prize, and has been seen by more than 18,000,000 people in displays throughout the world. While these statistics reflect the enormity and reach of the project, the quilt also serves to put individual names to the numbers. More than 100,000 family members and friends have added the name of a loved one to the quilt by making a panel, and panels continue to arrive daily at the foundation’s Atlanta office. They incorporate traditional quilting materials, but also spray paint, Barbie dolls, a Sony Walkman, and bubble wrap; their 3′ by 6′ size represents the dimensions of a human grave. Eight panels are sewn together to form a 12′ by 12′ square or “block” — there are 8,000 of these. They are numbered, photographed, and information about them is entered into a database. (You can download an app to view panels and search the quilt here.) Creating them provides a means for those left behind to both mourn and celebrate their loved ones. The quilt represents more than 94,000 individuals — men, women, and children — who have died of AIDS. Walking among the panels one begins to grasp the reach of the disease and the depth of loss and longing it creates.
This post reminds me it’s time to take on a long-neglected task. On an afternoon in 1985, my telephone rang. It was the brother of my dear friend Brucie, the friend who had introduced me to my husband. Brucie’s brother Dan told us that Brucie was on life support. It was incomprehensible — we’d barely heard of AIDS and Brucie was one of the most vital individuals we knew. He died a day or two later and within a couple of years Dan was dead, as well. I think of Brucie and Dan often — two whip-smart, funny, politically savvy, gorgeous men who loved to travel and dance. I can still hear Brucie’s wicked laugh. A few months after his death, a mutual friend suggested collaborating on a panel in his honor, but I worried about his family’s disapproval — at that point they hadn’t acknowledged that AIDS was the cause of Brucie’s death. Now I think the time has come — 27 years later — to acknowledge my loss and make a panel of my own.
A lifelong sewer/knitter and former weaver/spinner, Linzee Kull McCray, a.k.a. lkmccray, is a writer and editor living in Iowa. She feels fortunate to meet and write about people, from scientists to stitchers, who are passionate about their work. Her freelance writing appears in Quilts and More, Stitch, UPPERCASE, American Patchwork and Quilting and more. For more textile musings, visit her blog.
3 Featured Comments
Sign in to add your ownSarah from CopperheadCreations says: Featured
My dad died of AIDS in 1994, and I got my first glimpse of the quilt around that time, at 10 years old. The panels are beautiful, and it's painfully overwhelming to see them all collectively - full of photos, quotes, mementos - and to think of all of the lost lives they represent, and those who live on and love them.
301 days ago
mazedasastoat from mazedasastoat says: Featured
29 acres of love & loss. A fabulous way to remember the lost as well as bringing to the living the full scale of AIDS. I remember the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, when people really needed reminding that the victims weren't part of some shadowy counter-culture who brought it on themselves, but were people's brothers, sons, friends & fathers who would be missed & mourned. The quilt is a spectacular way of showing that love, & an important part of the healing process for many of those left behind.
301 days ago
Karen Brown says: Featured
Linzee, WHAT an important story. My best friend from high school has two panels on the quilt. He danced, and during a European tour fell sick in Germany. He called home to say he would be out of the hospital in a few days, but just 10 days later he died. A beautiful, funny, blonde-haired boy, he was my frequent "date" and took me to the Hollywood Bowl, the Fun Zone, and a crazy silent theater in Hollywood with an antique, mechanical orchestra. Unless you lived through those times, it really is impossible to imagine the swiftness of the disease, and the beauty, talent, love, and wit it carried off. I am so grateful to Cleve Jones for conceiving the quilt. As he said, "Not all battles are fought with a sword."
301 days ago
38 comments
Sign in to add your ownSherri from BurninLoveJewelry says:
That is just the biggest display of love! Anyone that has ever quilted knows the time and patience that goes into each of those pieces! So beautiful. If anyone here from Etsy was involved you did good : )
301 days ago
Megan from MegansMenagerie says:
What a beautiful way to have a memorial.
301 days ago
Cody and April Peavy from dawnandross says:
WOW...touching.
301 days ago
Liz from greengrass2 says:
A truly exceptional quilt. My Mum coordinated a similar initiative in South Africa called the Peace Quilt, now on permanent exhibition in the International Convention Centre in South Africa. I remember as a child opening all the parcels as each 'brick' or small quilt arrived in our post box from some far-flung location around the world. It was such a great experience to live through, and it is a truly amazing quilt to see.
301 days ago
Liesl Carlson from lcarlsonjewelry says:
So very moving! Thank you so much for sharing. I had no idea it was so large. Beauty and community can come out of loss.
301 days ago
Amanda Gynther from CafePrimrose says:
But now there is a new pill! And at least 1 person has been cured! Which is wonderful! About time we kicked AID's *ss. A great quilt with so many stories to tell. I have always loved it. Nice post!
301 days ago
Elena Fom from Attractive1 says:
GReat post.
301 days ago
LivingVintage from LivingVintage says:
Wonderful and touching!
301 days ago
Matejka Max from NattyMatty says:
Inspiring!!!
301 days ago
Debbie Stocker from VintageWantsNotNeeds says:
What a wonderful testament to those who have lost loved ones to this terrible disease. Would love to be there to see this.
301 days ago
elizabeth butler from Theartisanmonkey says:
the sight of such a combined effort brings a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye. simply beautiful.
301 days ago
Anastasia from LAccentNou says:
so touching and breathtaking!
301 days ago
Nerrissa W from RecycledWares says:
I was not able to see the quilt in 1987, and sad to say I will miss it yet again. Wish I lived closer.
301 days ago
Jane from RavensCrafts says:
Awesome!
301 days ago
Sarah from CopperheadCreations says: Featured
My dad died of AIDS in 1994, and I got my first glimpse of the quilt around that time, at 10 years old. The panels are beautiful, and it's painfully overwhelming to see them all collectively - full of photos, quotes, mementos - and to think of all of the lost lives they represent, and those who live on and love them.
301 days ago
ilanit bronstein from telepelekids says:
WOW,amzing project,all we need is love!
301 days ago
mazedasastoat from mazedasastoat says: Featured
29 acres of love & loss. A fabulous way to remember the lost as well as bringing to the living the full scale of AIDS. I remember the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, when people really needed reminding that the victims weren't part of some shadowy counter-culture who brought it on themselves, but were people's brothers, sons, friends & fathers who would be missed & mourned. The quilt is a spectacular way of showing that love, & an important part of the healing process for many of those left behind.
301 days ago
Linzee from lkmccray says:
mazedastoat, you really said it all in your comment. Thank you!
301 days ago
Silvia Berrios from DesignsbySilvia says:
It is a beautiful, and special way to remember those who are gone because of this tragic epidemic.
301 days ago
Hillary De Moineaux from VoleedeMoineaux says:
Great project!
301 days ago
Tee from TeepetalsDesigns says:
Touching and beautiful quilts
301 days ago
Karen Brown says: Featured
Linzee, WHAT an important story. My best friend from high school has two panels on the quilt. He danced, and during a European tour fell sick in Germany. He called home to say he would be out of the hospital in a few days, but just 10 days later he died. A beautiful, funny, blonde-haired boy, he was my frequent "date" and took me to the Hollywood Bowl, the Fun Zone, and a crazy silent theater in Hollywood with an antique, mechanical orchestra. Unless you lived through those times, it really is impossible to imagine the swiftness of the disease, and the beauty, talent, love, and wit it carried off. I am so grateful to Cleve Jones for conceiving the quilt. As he said, "Not all battles are fought with a sword."
301 days ago
Wei from HoneyThistle says:
This post brought goosebumps to my arms - there is so much love and loss captured within these quilt squares, and I'm so glad that it's considered a national treasure.
301 days ago
HandmadeIsAllAround from iammieOWLshop says:
Amazing!
301 days ago
Cyndi Kain says:
Our precious daughter was a "gift" from two beautiful parents who unfortunately lost their battles with AIDS in the mid-1990's. Had they not cared deeply enough for their daughter to graciously trust her to our loving care, we would never have known the joy of raising such a precious one! I would love to make a quilt panel to honor their memory and would like to know the size requirements and where to send it to be included in the AIDS Quilt. Does anyone know any info on how to go about doing this? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
301 days ago
Victoria Baker from LittleWrenPottery says:
Such a sad post, I think what makes it more touching is the personal lives each quilt represents and the loss of such vibrant people from our lives.
301 days ago
sewinggals from sewinggals says:
Wow - that is an incredible way to remember all of the love we have lost!
301 days ago
Linzee from lkmccray says:
Cyndi, if you click through the NAMES Foundation link in the post above you'll find all you need to know about making a panel for the quilt.
301 days ago
Susan Pauley from SPAULEY says:
Can't wait to see your panel, Linzee. It will be a great tribute to your friend.
300 days ago
Sam's Natural from SamsNatural says:
Wow that's crazy how many there are. Very touching ~ thank you for sharing!
300 days ago
Windy City Novelties says:
This is such a great story and I wish I was in DC to see all of the quilt panels. Thank you for sharing this!
300 days ago
Margaret Garnett from SemiPreciousGarnetts says:
What a beautiful piece.. So touching..
299 days ago
Debra Gilstrap from gilstrapdesigns says:
It is so beautiful and so full of love. I would love to be able to see the quilt and I hope that it will remain dear and sweet to all who lost someone to AIDS.
299 days ago
LisasLittleCreations from LisasLittleCreations says:
Beautifully written. very emotional piece thank you for sharing!
299 days ago
Jennifer Johnson from BelleFoto says:
Amazing!
298 days ago
Donna from LavenderRabbit says:
Simply incredible! Heartbreaking to remember how those infected in the beginning were treated, I am thankful the memory and love is being keep alive with this project.
298 days ago
jonwinet says:
Linzee - Thanks for writing such a thoughtful and moving post. The University of Iowa Digital Studio for Public Humanities – that i am fortunate enough to direct – was honored to develop the "AIDS Quilt Touch" mobile web application [http://aidsquilttouch.org] that allows people to search for a name among the 99,000 included on the Quilt, to located a quilt panel, and to contribute comments and stories that are then added to the app. It's our hope that these electronic additions enrich the actual Quilt and the celebrations of those lost to the pandemic.
297 days ago
Maria from CarambasVintage says:
Thank you for writing this wonderful post. AIDS is now a treatable disease but many people still die of AIDS in poor countries because they do not have access to medicines. Let's not forget them.
296 days ago