New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt

This block is part of the New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt. The New Zealand Quilt Project dates from 1988, and is part of a worldwide movement that grew from communities most affected by HIV and AIDS. Each quilt panel represents a person who died of AIDS, and was made by family members, partners and/or friends.

This entire block is one piece of canvas designed and made by The New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt Project committee to answer the question, "But who do I know that has died of AIDS?" to mark World AIDS Day, 1 December 1994. A list was made up of well-known people from within New Zealand and around the world who were known to have died as a result of AIDS, and their names were printed on The Quilt along side a star. Some stars are left blank for others to be added if necessary in the future.

People remembered on this block include: Lew Pryme, Michael Callen, Sylvester, Freddie Mercury, Brad Davis, Rock Hudson, Anthony Perkins, Robert Reed, Ricky Wilson, Rudolph Nureyev, Arthur, Bressan Jnr, Roderick Horn, Denholm Elliott, Tony Richardson, Ian Charleson, Ray Sharkey, Dick Sargent, Derek Jarman, Miles Davis, Graham Chapman, Michael Bennett, Peter Allen, Bruce Chatwin, Patrick Cowley, Liberace, Wayland Flowers (all from the film and performing arts industries); Howard Ashman (composer), Perry Ellis, Tina Chow, Tony Chase, Halston, Willie Smith (all fashion designers); Keith Haring (artist), Vito Russo and Tom Mclean (writers), Robert Maplethorpe (photographer), Michel Foulcault (philosopher), Roy Cohn (attorney), Arthur Ashe (tennis player), Dr. Tom Waddell (doctor and athlete), Ryan White and Eve Van Grafhorst (child AIDS activists); Kimberly Bergalis, Darren Horn (early New Zealand AIDS activist and educator), Alison Gertz, Alistar Hall, Bruce Burnett, Noriyasu Akase, Tom O’Donoghue, Elizabeth Glaser, Ian Thompson, Michael Hay, Nigel Barraud (AIDS activists); Marc Bensemann (journalist).

The Quilt concept originated in San Francisco in 1987 in response to the devastating impact of AIDS. Its intention was to raise awareness and enable loved ones to express feelings of love, loss and regret in a permanent and tangible way.

The quilt panels are moving, creative and positive memorials to those who died, and testaments to love and community support. Their presence and endurance reminds both of the need for remembrance and compassion, but also the need for continued awareness and education in response to HIV and AIDS. AIDS deaths have dropped in New Zealand because of medication, but HIV infections remain an ongoing concern.

There are 16 quilt blocks in total.