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| The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt visited Wooster in 1996. |
Arthur Ashe, Amanda Blake, Rock Hudson, and Ryan White are among those whose panels will be featured when the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt Display comes to Wooster April 14-16. The three-day exhibit will take place at The College of Wooster's Timken Gymnasium, which is located at 1267 Beall Avenue, just north of Lowry Center. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The event is free and open to the public. Donations collected during the exhibition will benefit the Community AIDS Consortium, Hospice of Wayne County and B.I.S.H.O.P.'s P.L.E.A. (Believing In Some Hope Or Purpose for People Living Everyday with AIDS), an organization of and for people living with HIV/AIDS in Wayne County.
This marks the third time the quilt will be exhibited in Wooster, reinforcing the College's commitment to ensure that each class of students has an opportunity to experience the display and its message.
"Our goal is to raise awareness, give visual understanding, and expose The College of Wooster students and the surrounding communities to the realities of living with HIV/AIDS in a global society," said Nancy Anderson, director of Wooster's Student Health Center and one of three chairpersons responsible for bringing the quilt to Wooster. "We have a responsibility to educate and empower a broad range of people through our display and to change forever our community's commitment to AIDS education and HIV prevention."
Overview
The Wooster display of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt will be one of the larger exhibits, and people from the surrounding area are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. It also provides a chance for church groups, classes, youth groups, service groups and others to plan a visit and discussion session. Educational materials are available at the site as well as computer links to various web sites and images of many of the panels that will not be at Wooster.
On display in April will be most of the quilt panels dedicated at Wooster during the previous two displays. A number of "well-known" panels and many dedicated for young children and young adults have also been requested.
Part of the educational effort will be to assist in the understanding of the global face of AIDS. While medical advances have increased the life expectancy of persons who are HIV positive in the United States, the epidemic continues here and abroad. Even for those in the USA, the cost of treatment is very high, and the quality of life is significantly affected.
Ceremonies
At Wooster's opening ceremony, which will take place to the heartbeat of African drums on Friday, April 14, at 10 a.m., there will be an explanation of Wooster's Quilt display and the NAMES Project Foundation. In addition, the names of the panels to be dedicated will be read, and the quilts will be unfolded.
On Saturday, April 15, there will be a dedication ceremony from 1:00-1:30 p.m., during which the new panels will be presented and dedicated. The College of Wooster Dance Company will also perform by candlelight.
A brief closing ceremony will be held on Sunday, April 16, from 5:15-5:30 p.m. The quilt will be blessed, and the floor display will be folded, symbolizing the closing of the display.
All three ceremonies are open to everyone on campus and in the community at large.
Education and Visitation
Friday, April 14, has been designated as school visitation day for the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt display. Students and teachers from elementary and secondary schools are invited and encouraged to participate in a guided tour of this powerful educational exhibit. Tours will consist of an introductory video presentation about the Quilt, the nature of memorials and basic disease prevention. Students will then browse through the panel display. Each group may determine how much time to allot for studying the panels. The recommended time is 30 to 45 minutes. To schedule a tour for April 14, please contact Sheila Wilson at (330) 263-2132 or swilson@wooster.edu. Related Displays
There will be other displays related to the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, including one at The College of Wooster's Mateer Hall on Thursday night (April 6), which will provide basic information about the larger display. In addition, there will be displays on campus at the Lowry Center Art Wall from April 9-16 and the College's Wilson Bookstore from April 10-20. Another display to enhance public awareness was held at the Wayne County Public Library (Feb. 29-March 5).
Volunteers
There will be opportunities for more than 300 people to volunteer during the three-day exhibit. Help will also be needed Thursday evening for set-up and Sunday evening for tear down. Those interested in volunteering may contact Nancy Anderson at nanderson@wooster.edu.
Additional Information
For additional information about the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt display or to make a donation, contact Nancy Anderson at nanderson@wooster.edu or visit The College of Wooster's web site at www.wooster.edu.