Final Project Idea: The Names Project Quilt (Adrian Apollo)

 

I think that Eaklor's book has provided multiple opportunities to see how art aided queer folks who were in times of struggle, in need of community and understanding, and a general outlet to engage in. This is something that is of great interest to me, as I am writing my own thesis on this topic partially. I think that the NAMES Project AIDS Quilt demonstrates this perfectly. It was one of the largest community art projects, and it brought awareness to those who lost their battle to AIDS. I take a lot of interest in how this quilt was made, organized and produced, and it would be really nice to have an opportunity to explore these aspects of the piece itself. By doing this, it would allow me to analyze the impacts that this project had as a whole, and we could see the ways in which this artistic endeavor aided those within the LGBT community. I could also have the opportunity to highlight some of those that lost their battle to AIDS, and what impact these people had on the community in order to appear within this quilt. How inclusive was it as a whole? Did a piece at this magnitude allow any opportunities for society to be shifted by the true impact of the AIDS crisis as a whole? This project required the labor of multiple people, how was this sourced? These are all questions I have naturally upon reading Chapter 8 of Queer America, and I would love the opportunity to really analyze and learn more about this topic.  

Along with this however, I could also explore how other artists mentioned in Eaklor's book utilized the arts in order to express themselves and bring awareness to their own struggles. Along with these artists, I would love to include queer artists that I have researched for my own thesis essay that have utilized art in a means to express themselves or gain public attention or understanding.