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Often abbreviated to the AIDS Memorial quilt, The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt is a tribute to many who have sadly passed due to the AIDS pandemic and AIDS related causes. Immense, it is estimated to weigh over 54 tons and as of 2010, it is the largest piece of community folk art in the world.
How it All Began
AIDS activist Cleve Jones derived the idea for the quilt in 1985 and started it in San Francisco with 3 others to help. It exploded from there, and was first displayed in 1987 with less than 2,000 squares commemorating loved ones who had fallen to this terrible disease. The display was held in Washington D.C., on the National Mall, with over half a million people traveling, some who were local and many who lived great distances away, to witness it that weekend. The quilt was, at that time, larger than a football field.
The response was staggering, and the quilt went on mobile display over a four-month period, hitting 20 cities, and in each it continued to grow as local panels were added. By the end of the tour, there were 6,000 panels, tripling its size. By 1988, over 8,200 were presented to the public again in front of the White House on the Ellipse. The reading of each individual name has become a tradition somberly followed at almost every Quilt display. The Quilt would go on to more public displays in 1989, 1992 and 1993. Its final showing was in 1996, where the Quilt covered the vast entirety of the National Mall. To give you some perspective, the National Mall is 146 acres. That, unfortunately represents far too many people passing from AIDS and related illnesses.
Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, the Quilt has been subject of numerous books, poems, articles, essays, documentaries, and even films. Redefining the art of quilt-making, the AIDS Quilt has shaped a new attitude towards community response in modern situations and elevated the tradition to something higher.
If you have a loved one who has fallen to AIDS, then you may desire to add your panel to the AIDS Memorial Quilt. One need not know how to quilt to add a panel; any panel -painted, appliquéd, cross-stitched, or even iron-on transfer will work for commemoration. Some choose to make their panel privately and by his or her lonesome, others take a more traditional quilting route and gather the help of friends. However you best work, the important thing is to honor your loved one. Make sure to design your panel to include at minimum the name of the person remembered, but feel free to add details like date of birth and death, special talents, hometown, impacts your loved had on his or community or accomplishments that are worth making note of.
The quilt will be folded and unfolded often, so choose a material accordingly and durability is of the essence. Cotton duck or a non-stretch poplin or medium weight work best. Eschew glue as it deteriorates and instead favor sewing, painting or iron-ons. As mentioned, there is no limit placed on the artistic expression for these panels. Photos are even allowed. It is recommended to think long-term and work accordingly, in an effort to keep the panel as fresh ten years from now as it is the day you make it.
If you would like more information, the address to send panel to and what to include in the letter, please see the AIDS Quilt panel making page.

