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La Coperta dei Nomi
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NAMES Project: a short history |
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The Italian Names Project |
The AIDS Memorial Quilt Display |
How to Prepare a Memorial Panel |
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The Objectives of the NAMES Project |
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The Panelmaker Information Label |
The NAMES Project: A Short History
NAMES Project was conceived in June 1987 in San Francisco by Cleve Jones. He was urged by the large number of people dead of AIDS in San Francisco in the timeframe between 1980 and 1987 and by the worrying inactivity of USA Government in facing the epidemic. Together with a group of collaborators he founded the NAMES Project Foundation. The target was "to get something from every individual experience and to sew everything together to achieve something communicating energy and beauty".
The idea of this original project spred quickly. People started sending their panels from New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco to increase the Quilt in memory of their lost beloved ones. As of today, thousands of people from everywhere in the world send their panels to the central seat in San Francisco to have them added to the Big Quilt.
The AIDS Memorial Quilt Display
The entire quilt was first exposed in front of the White House in Washington October 11, 1987. The occasion was the "National Walk to Washington" organized by almost all USA gay organizations. At that time, the Quilt was made up by 1920 panels and covered a surface as extended as two football fields. Over 500,000 attended the commemoration.
No long after that, the Quilt was exposed in several cities and the amount of panels increased up to 6,000. From then on, the Quilt has been exposed every year and the number of composing panels is unfortunately continuously increasing. Today, the Quilt is made up by over 45,000 panels.
The entire AIDS Memorial Quilt has been exposed in front of the Capitol in Washington D.C., October 11 to 13, 1996, to push USA Government for a more decise action against AIDS epidemic. As 45,000 panels, 15 city blocks of fabric, were unfolded, over 70,000 names of dead people have been read: more names than are carved into the nearby Vietnam War Memorial. It was the largest AIDS-related event ever held.
The Objectives of the NAMES Project
The AIDS Quilt being immediate, it allows to carry to everyone, regardless from the individual status and culture, the message that AIDS is not an abstract entity but something concerning all of us. Many women, men and children have died of AIDS and many others are dying. The Quilt display allows to reach and made sensitive an increasing amount of people and motivate them to learn more about AIDS and cooperate in fighting it.
The importance of the epidemic and the urgency of adequate actions by the governments and the society are higlighted by extracting names, histories, loves from the cold numbers of statistics. The AIDS Quilt can so be a way to push and to put pressure for actions by institutions.
The international nature of the initiative allows to build and consolidate a common memory and a common hope to ideally join everyone in the world under the sign of a shared grief.
Last but not least, the Names Project is bound to encourage and collect donations to support HIV and AIDS affected people and those assisting them.
The Italian Names Project
ASA is the official Italian affiliate of International Names Project. The Quilt started in 1990 by collecting the first panels from several cities in Lombardy. The Quilt was first displayed in the same year in Piazza della Scala, in Milan, together with ANLAID (National Association for Fight Against AIDS) and Milan Municipality. As of today, the Italian Quilt is made up by over 200 panels and has been exposed in several cities on request of other organizations.
The entire Quilt is displayed by ASA every year on December 1., World AIDS Day.
How to Prepare a Memorial Panel
All kinds of people have made panels for the Quilt, in a variety of colors, fabrics, and styles. You don't have to be an artist or a sewing expert to create a moving personal tribute. It doesn't matter if you use paint or fine needlework; any remembrance is appropriate. You may choose to create a panel privately as a personal memorial to someone you've loved, but we encourage you to follow the traditions of old-fashioned sewing and quilting bees, by including friends, family, and co-workers. You may also contact our office (+39 2 58107084) for further information.
To create a panel for the Quilt just follow these steps:
Design the panel:
- Include the name of the friend or loved one you are remembering.
- Feel free to include additional information such as the dates of birth and death, and a hometown.
- Please limit each panel to one individual.
Choose your materials:
- Remember that the Quilt is folded and unfolded many times, so durability is crucial.
- Since glue deteriorates with time, it is best to sew things to the panel.
- A medium-weight, non-stretch fabric such as a cotton duck or poplin works best.
- Your design can be vertical or horizontal, but the finished, hemmed panel must be 3 feet by 6 feet (90 cm x 180 cm)--no more and no less! When you cut the fabric, leave an extra 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) on each side for a hem. If you can't hem it yourself, we'll do it for you. Batting for the panels is not necessary, but backing is recommended. Backing helps to keep panels clean when they are laid out on the ground. It also helps retain the shape of the fabric.
Create the panel:
To construct your panel you might want to use some of the following
techniques:
- Appliqué: Sew fabric, letters and small mementos onto the background fabric. Do not rely on glue. It won't last.
- Paint: Brush on textile paint or color-fast dye, or use an indelible ink pen. Please don't use "puffy" paint; it's too sticky.
- Stencil: Trace your design onto the fabric with a pencil, lift the stencil, then use a brush to apply textile paint or indelible markers.
- Collage: Make sure that whatever materials you add to the panel won't tear the fabric (avoid glass and sequins for this reason), and be sure to avoid very bulky objects.
- Photos: The best way to include photos or letters is to photocopy them onto iron-on transfers, iron them onto 600 cotton fabric and sew that fabric to the panel. You may also put the photo in clear plastic vinyl and sew it to the panel (off-center so it avoids the fold).
Write us a letter:
Please take the time to write a one-or two-page letter about the person you've remembered. The letter might include your relationship to him/her, how he or she would like to be remembered, and a favorite memory.
Fill out the panelmaker information
label:
This provides us with vital information about you and your panel. THE MAXIMUM PRIVACY IS GRANTED ON THIS INFORMATION.
Send us the panel:
Pack it very carefully and post it or carry it to:
ASA
Associazione Solidarietà AIDS
Via Arena 25
20123 - Milano
If you are able, please make a donation to help pay for the cost of adding your panel to the Quilt. The NAMES Project depends on the support of panelmakers to preserve the Quilt and keep it on display. A gift of any amount is welcome.
NOTE: All panels received become a property of Italian Names Quilt. The panels will be used for every display or event related to the Names Project. The panels can not be returned or claimed back. The Names Project holds copyright on all panels received. It is important to enclose the panelmaker information label as described below in order to allow us to contact tha authors of the panels if needed. THE MAXIMUM PRIVACY IS GRANTED ON THIS INFORMATION.
The Panelmaker Information Label
Every panel shall be completed by sewing on its back an identification label including the information below:
- Sentences written on the panel
- Full name of the person the panel is dedicated to
- Full name(s) of the author(s) of the panel
- Address of the author of the panel, including city, country and ZIP
- Telephone number of the author of the panel, indicating the preferred hours for receiving calls
© 1996-1997 ASA Milan