The MSU Museum will honor World AIDS Day by displaying two NAMES Project AIDS Memorial quilt blocks from Dec. 1 to 11.
Established in 1987, The NAMES Project Foundation, the international caretaker of the quilt, works to preserve, care for and use the AIDS Memorial Quilt. The quilt began in San Francisco 30 years ago with a single 3-by-6-foot panel and today includes more than 49,000 panels. The panels have come from every state in the nation and have been created by friends, lovers and family members in an attempt to transform loss and heartbreak into hope and healing.
“With teddy bears and Boy Scout badges, love letters and photographs, this American treasure was created by the people for real people who were loved and lost to AIDS,” said Julie Rhoad, executive director of The NAMES Project Foundation. We thank the MSU Museum for its visionary efforts in hosting this event and invite you to see what wonderful healing art we have created together as a nation.”
By revealing the humanity behind the statistics, the AIDS Memorial Quilt helps teach compassion; triumphs over taboo, stigma and phobia; and inspires individuals to take direct responsibility for their own well-being and that of their family, friends and community. To date, more than 18 million people have seen the AIDS Memorial Quilt at displays throughout the world.
For more information on The NAMES Project and the AIDS Memorial Quilt, please visit aidsquilt.org.