Columbia College Chicago is set to publicly exhibit three sections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt from April 30 through May 13 at the Getz Theatre Center, announced in conjunction with their production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical "RENT." These panels from the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt are a tribute to more than 100,000 individuals who have died from AIDS-related causes, and the quilt itself is recognized as the largest community folk art project globally. The quilt's display aims to immerse the audience in the historical reality wrapping the musical's narrative.
Jimmy Noriega, director of Columbia’s School of Theatre and Dance, explained the significance of the quilt and its relation to the production of "RENT". "Theater history is AIDS history, and AIDS history is theater history," he told the Chicago Sun-Times, underscoring the profound impact the AIDS crisis had upon the world of performing arts. Noriega specially requested panels dedicated to names within the realms of musical theater and dance, hoping to procure the panel of the iconic choreographer Alvin Ailey, who succumbed to AIDS-related causes in 1989.
Each panel of the Quilt measures 3 feet by 6 feet, mirroring the dimensions of a human grave. This somber aspect reflects the loss each panel signifies, with personalized elements such as photographs, clothing articles, and handwritten messages stitched into them. Through these commemorative fabrics, the quilt encapsulates raw feelings – love, grief, rage, and beauty – of the moment it was created.
The quilt not only serves as a poignant memorial but also functions as an educational tool. "We can’t separate art from history. This project gives us a way to connect the two—and to ensure that we remember," Noriega stated, as mentioned in a release from Columbia College Chicago. The college's decision to display the quilt during "RENT" reflects an educational commitment to highlight the broader cultural and political issues that have sculpted both the musical and the experiences of those memorialized in the quilt.
Fostering deeper reflections on the AIDS crisis and its impact on communities, particularly queer communities, the quilt and "RENT" share a thematic connection that Noriega describes as "a love letter to queer communities." For visitors and students alike, the in-person viewing experience is expected to be a powerful encounter, going beyond the digital online exhibition available through the National AIDS Memorial website.
The public is invited to view these historic quilt sections as they journey through a period that continues to resonate with urgency and relevance, contributing to ongoing advocacy and education about AIDS. Both Columbia College Chicago and the National AIDS Memorial in San Francisco, current stewards of the quilt, continue to uphold the memory of lives lost to AIDS through this enduring folk art project.
