Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Thirty-two years ago, a group of strangers gathered in San Francisco to create a memorial for those who had died of AIDS. The meeting served as the foundation of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. Today the quilt is comprised of 48,000 panels, each handmade and sewn by friends, partners and family members of those who have succumbed to the disease.
 
Panels of the quilt travel the world to be displayed. More than 30 panels of the quilt will be displayed at various venues in the community during a two-week period on behalf of the Frank Harr Foundation, in coordination with NAMES. A panel measuring 12'X12' will be on display in Randall Library’s atrium Nov. 30-Dec. 15.

Christopher Robinson, outreach and engagement librarian, was contacted by Brooke Lambert from UNCW’s LGBTQIA Resource Office to determine if the library could house an exhibit of this magnitude. Once the library agreed to be a hosting site, a small group was formed to organize the project. Meghan Smith, liaison librarian to the College of Health and Humans Services, was selected as the lead, with Robinson as her support.  

“We felt this was a key opportunity to bring awareness and share information about HIV/AIDS to a new population of students who may not know or were not born during the apex of the AIDS epidemic,” said Robinson. “This exhibition will highlight the breadth and depth of how HIV/AIDS has affected humanity locally, nationally and globally.”

The public is welcome to view the pieces during the library’s usual public hours, however, final exams are taking place during these dates and viewers are asked to show courtesy during this time. More information on the UNCW display can be found online.

-- Caroline Cropp

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