April 25, 1994

I went to the Newman Center to see the display of pieces of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. The quilt was started in the late 80's, a collection of 3' x 6' panels, not necessarily involving traditional quilting techniques, but all involving a cloth base and a variety of applied materials, each meant to honor someone who died from the disease. The panels are sewn together into 12' x 12' blocks, and several of these blocks were on display in the main room of the center, the rows of chairs used for Mass having been all put away. Volunteers in shifts took turns reading aloud from a list of names of those who had died from AIDS. Next to each block was a box of tissues, I assumed for those overcome with emotion.