Culture and Craft: The AIDS Memorial Quilt
Tuesday, October 27, 2026 · 4:30 PM EDT · Ginter Park Branch Library · Richmond, VA
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About this event
Culture and Craft invites participants to learn about the history and shared meaning of different communities through hands-on exploration of craft traditions. The AIDS Memorial Quilt is a massive community art project that was conceived in 1985 by activist Cleve Jones to memorialize and celebrate the lives of those lost to the AIDS epidemic. It is made up of thousands of three by six feet panels, approximately the size of a grave. This specific size is a nod to the fact that during the height of the AIDS epidemic, many people who were lost were denied funerals and burials due to public stigma and familial rejection. In 1987, the Quilt was displayed on the National Mall in DC to bring attention to the sheer scale of the AIDS crisis. It covered an area the size of a football field and was made of almost 2,000 panels. Today, AIDS Memorial Quilt is made up of 48,000 panels, weighs approximately 54 tons, and is considered the largest community art project in history.
Description from rvalibrary.libcal.com