AIDS Memorial Quilt | |
 AIDS Memorial Quilt on display at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. | |
| Location | Various locations during exhibitions; San Francisco (when not displayed). |
|---|---|
| Designer | Cleve Jones |
| Type | Community memorial arts project. |
| Material | Fabric and various materials. |
| Length | 1,300,000 sq ft (120,000 m2) |
| Weight | 54 tonnes (54,000 kg) |
| Beginning date | November 27, 1985 |
| Inauguration date | October 11, 1987 |
| Dedicated to | the people who have lost their lives to AIDS. |
| Panel artists | Friends, family members, or loved ones. |
The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, often abbreviated to AIDS Memorial Quilt or AIDS Quilt, is a memorial to celebrate the lives of people who have died of AIDS-related causes. Weighing an estimated 54 tons,[1] it is the largest piece of community folk art in the world, as of 2020.[update][2] It was conceived in 1985, during the early years of the AIDS pandemic, when social stigma prevented many AIDS victims from receiving funerals. It has been displayed on the Mall in Washington, D.C., several times. In 2020, it returned to San Francisco, where it is cared for by the National AIDS Memorial. It can be seen virtually.[3]
- ^ "Creativity and Crisis: Unfolding The AIDS Memorial Quilt". Smithsonian Center. June 1, 2012. Archived from the original on June 23, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ "About The Names Project". National AIDS Memorial. March 7, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ "The History of the Quilt". National AIDS Memorial. November 19, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2024.