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The AIDS Memorial Quilt
By Matt and Eli, Cape Elizabeth, grade 5
 
This quilt was started in 1987 by a man named Cleve Jones and a small group of neighborhood friends in a empty store on Market Street in San Francisco, California.  The quilt was started so people could show how the family or friends feel about a person who died from AIDS. Each panel on the quilt is 3 feet by 6 feet, which is the size of a human grave. Each panel is made by family or friends of the person who died.  They choose the design to show what the person was like, their hobbies, skills, and to show how much they are loved and missed. Though it was started by just one man's idea and the help of his friends it is now an enormous monument to thousands of people. It is a talking wall because it tells us so much about so many people and their lives. On October 11,1987 the AIDS Quilt was displayed on the Mall in front of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. This picture shows part of that display.
 
 

Here is a list of some facts about the NAMES quilt:
Number of: Visitors:12,524,000
Names: 80,466
Size (in football fields): 25 with walkway 16 without walkway
Fabric (in miles): 48.75
Volunteer hours: 1,229,540
Panels: Over 42,016
Panel size: 3 feet by 6 feet

The two smaller pictures here are of two different panels on the quilt. They are very different, just like the people are. What do these pieces of the "talking wall" quilt tell you about these two people?

Some familiar names: Peter Allen, Entertainer; Rock Hudson, Actor;  Arthur Ashe, Tennis player; Perry Ellis, fashion designer; Ryan White, student

Some materials used in the quilt: Barbie dolls, human hair, car keys, credit cards, champagne glasses, carpet, Legos, corduroy, merit badges, paintings, pictures, jewelry, stuffed animals, love letters, flags, first-place ribbons, records, pins, plastic, hats, bubble-wrap, burlap, buttons, and shirts

Some countries contributing panels: Aruba, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Spain, United States, Poland, Japan, Sweden, Russia, Chile, Italy, Norway, Argentina, Taiwan, Switzerland, Germany, and North Ireland
 
 
 

Click here to return to the index of "talking walls."

Click here to return to the "Talking Walls" Project homepage.
 
 

Note: This is a student Web page.  Opinions expressed on this page shall not be attributed to the Cape Elizabeth School Department. If you have questions about this page, please email Ms Parker:  talkingwalls@cape.k12.me.us