Posts Tagged ‘Washington DC’

AIDS Quilt

Thursday, December 1st, 2022

..August 1996.. ..Washington, DC.. The AIDS Quilt when it was displayed on the National Mall in Washington, DC. It was unbelievably sad to see how massive it was. Each quilt was made for a person who has passed away from AIDS. The quilt was laid from the Capitol to the Washington Monument. A large amount of space.  The names and the ages on the quilts spanned all demographics and ages; male, female, young, elderly, middle age, children, husbands, wives, lovers, partners, friends, artists, business people, a few famous people and mostly ordinary people who were loved by someone, etc…I remember wanting to find the quilt made for Freddie Mercury but as soon as I saw the landscape I realized that it’s entirety was more important than finding just one in a sea of millions. 

The AIDS Quilt is the largest piece of community art ever shown. I’m not sure if it’s been displayed since I saw it in 1996. But the enormous size of the project demonstrates how serious a problem AIDS/HIV still is.  I wish the quilt would still be exhibited every year so we don’t have the excuse of saying AIDS/HIV was a problem for  a brief moment of time affecting only one or two types of people.  It’s easy to believe stereotypes when you’re wearing blinders. 

Today is World AIDS Day and there is barely a mention of AIDS. AIDS still ends too many lives. I don’t want to forget those who have been affected.

AIDS Quilt

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

..August 1996.. ..Washington, DC..

The AIDS Quilt when it was shown on the National Mall in Washington, DC. It was unbelievably sad to see how massive it was. Each quilt was made for a person who has passed away from AIDS. The quilt was laid from the Capitol to the Washington Monument. A large amount of space.

The AIDS Quilt is the largest piece of community art ever shown. I’m not sure if it’s been displayed since I saw it in Washington, DC in 1996. But the enormous size of the project demonstrates who serious a problem AIDS still is.

The Woman Sitting in Front of the White House

Friday, October 14th, 2011

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..March 2008 The Woman outside the White House..

When I was attending university I used to photograph a woman who sat in front of the White House protesting the use of nuclear weapons. The last time I saw her was 11 years ago, 1997. She has been holding a 24 hour a day vigil on the street since 1980. Only leaving briefly to go to the bathroom, sleeping on 2 blankets, and a pillow on top of a large wooden mattress, no matter the elements.

I’ve seen her sitting in snow up to her waist and sweating in the oppressive August humidity. She out lasted 4 Presidents who slept about 100 yards away in the Lincoln Bedroom inside a mansion called the White House.

I’ve been carrying a business card she handed me the first time I met her. It was shoved into the corner of my camera bag for 11 years. I wonder if she’s still sits there? I can’t imagine being as devoted to give up my entire life for a cause. 1980 was 28 years ago. She has been sitting out there 3/4 of my life. In that time I’ve seen the birth of my sister, experienced my parents divorce, graduated from college, started my career, traveled around the world twice, and seen the birth of my niece.

Blog42

I haven’t been to Washington, DC in many years. I wonder if she is still sitting in front of the White House? I wonder if she’s still alive? I thought about her while I was photographing Hibakusha in Nagasaki last fall. When I was sitting in my hotel room one block away from the epi-center, I thought of my friendship with her from 1995-1998. Is she still sitting out there?


Fragile

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

Fragile

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Documents 077

Documents 076


The Woman outside the White House

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

1aaa

..March 2008 The Woman outside the White House..

When I was attending university I used to photograph a woman who sat in front of the White House protesting the use of nuclear weapons. The last time I saw her was 11 years ago, 1997. She has been holding a 24 hour a day vigil on the street since 1980. Only leaving briefly to go to the bathroom, sleeping on 2 blankets, and a pillow on top of a large wooden mattress, no matter the elements.

I’ve seen her sitting in snow up to her waist and sweating in the oppressive August humidity. She out lasted 4 Presidents who slept about 100 yards away in the Lincoln Bedroom inside a mansion called the White House.

I’ve been carrying a business card she handed me the first time I met her. It was shoved into the corner of my camera bag for 11 years. I wonder if she’s still sits there? I can’t imagine being as devoted to give up my entire life for a cause. 1980 was 28 years ago. She has been sitting out there 3/4 of my life. In that time I’ve seen the birth of my sister, experienced my parents divorce, graduated from college, started my career, traveled around the world twice, and seen the birth of my niece.

Blog42

I haven’t been to Washington, DC in many years. I wonder if she is still sitting in front of the White House? I wonder if she’s still alive? I thought about her while I was photographing Hibakusha in Nagasaki last fall. When I was sitting in my hotel room one block away from the epi-center, I thought of my friendship with her from 1995-1998. Is she still sitting out there?