On the phone today, speaking with a nice lady about a gig I’m doing in Maryland next week, I had a twinge of sadness that I can’t take on any more road gigs for the foreseeable future. We were going over the lectures I’m doing for the Bayside Quilters in Easton next week, and the lady said:
“We’ve done a lot of publicity already, so we can’t switch the lectures we selected, but I did have someone ask if we could have the AIDS Quilt lecture … Maybe next time!”
When we made the date for my appearance, of course, many months ago, the AIDS Quilt lecture didn’t exist. Now it does, and I very much look forward to the time when I can give it again. I know that lecture will have a long run, but as to when the talk will be presented — and to whom — we shall have to wait and see.
For now, here is the second part of the two-part Quilt Scout column in which I share a bit of what I learned in researching the AIDS Quilt. Make sure you read the first part first and then go on to the second. I hope you’ll feel enriched by the material as I was.
Thanks, all.
p.s. The shoes arrived and I’ll have an update on those and the coat this week!
Jeff
“A quilt is a deeply feminine thing”. I don’t know how to feel about that statement. I’m a man. I make quilts, usually for loved ones. I don’t see them as feminine gifts. I see them as gifts of artistic expression from my heart, my male heart. Just my viewpoint.
Christine Houghton
I agree. Quilting is an expression of love and artistic talent. Its not gender specific.
Charlotte
Thank you, Mary.
Nadine Donovan
Well said Mary! I was a young Nurse when the Aids crisis came out. What a time in my career! I find it so devastating and sad. I have friends who have aides from taking care of their patients who had it. I have friends who have it from having a blood transfusion. I think the aides quilt is very powerful in many ways. Freedom of expression- communication- raising awareness- everything! Thank you for sharing this with us.
Lindsey
I went to view a portion of the AIDS quilt in Sacramento, CA. It was a powerful experience in many ways. To see the number of rectangles that represented deaths, and to know I was seeing just a tiny portion of them, had me sobbing in the embrace of someone I had never seen before. We cried in one anothers arms as the enormity of what was happening really hit home. I think the quilt was one of the most profound moments in my life.