San Francisco’s National AIDS Memorial will soon unveil the 35th anniversary rendition of its famous quilt, which comprises nearly 3,000 hand-stitched panels in remembrance of loved ones lost to AIDS. This will be the largest quilt display in over a decade, and the largest ever in SF history. The free, public display will happen from 10am-5pm on June 11 and 12 in Robin Williams Meadow.
The quilt is composed of 350 12-foot by 12-foot blocks, each of which has eight 3-foot by 6-foot handmade panels memorializing a loved one lost to AIDS. Visitors will have the opportunity to walk among the quilt display, reading names and stories of each individual. Many of the newest panels were added during the pandemic, and hundreds will be on public display for the first time. The National AIDS Memorial Quilt is considered the largest community arts project in the world.
In addition to the quilt display, this 35th anniversary event will include several community villages dedicated to panel-making, quilt history, volunteering, social media, storytelling, conversations, and community service. The quilt unfolding will begin at 9:30am on Saturday the 11th, and volunteers will be present for a continuous reading of names on the quilt during both days. The closing ceremony will take place at 4pm on Sunday the 12th, where newly made panels will be added.
The National AIDS Memorial is still accepting volunteers to help set up and read names, and you can make a panel to add to the quilt at the closing ceremony.
San Francisco’s National AIDS Memorial is devoted to “healing, hope, remembrance, and history about the AIDS epidemic in America.” The organization works to support those who have lost loved ones to the AIDS epidemic, and manages the National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park.
Be sure to attend the free display of the National AIDS Memorial Quilt on June 11-12 at Robin Williams Meadow.
Featured image: @sfrecpark via Instagram