AIDS quilt provides symbol of comfort

The needle arts have been used traditionally as a means to memorialize the passing of a loved one and, in the process, to grieve; for example, look at the memorial samplers embroidered in the early 1800s, now found in museums.

But in the 21st century, it is quilting and quilts that serve the purpose of remembrance. The AIDS Memorial Quilt, which now comprises more than 40,000 panels, commemorates the lives of those who have died as a result of AIDS or HIV infection.

A part of the AIDS quilt is coming to Bangor and Orono in December as part of the awareness activities associated with World AIDS Day, Dec. 1.

The Eastern Maine AIDS Network invites the public to a gathering at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at Hammond Street Congregational Church in Bangor where panels from the national AIDS quilt will be on display. At 6:30 p.m. the Rev. Mark Doty will give a brief talk about the reason for World AIDS Day, the meaning of the red ribbon and the importance of community support and leadership. A procession will walk to Hannibal Hamlin Park, located between Franklin and Central streets, to light luminaria and hold a candlelight vigil to mark the 20th annual World AIDS Day. For more information, call the network toll free at 877-990-3626.

Portions of the AIDS Memorial Quilt also will be shown 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the Best Western Black Bear Inn. One section of eight 3-by-6-foot panels, will be on display. Each of the panels was stitched to remember the life of a person lost to AIDS. The panels in this exhibit will not be the same ones displayed at the Hammond Street Church event.

The HIV Prevention Education Program at the Maine Department of Education is the sponsor of the Dec. 11 event. According to DOE statistics, one out of every three new AIDS infections occurs in those under 35 years of age.

Organizers say the goals of the AIDS Memorial Quilt are to provide a creative means for remembering those who have been lost to the disease, to aid in the healing process of those who are grieving, to illustrate the enormity of the AIDS epidemic, to increase awareness of AIDS and HIV, to assist others in HIV infection prevention education and to raise funds for community AIDS service organizations such as Eastern Maine AIDS Network.

AIDS Memorial Quilt panels also will be on display 5-8 p.m. today at the Eastland Hotel in Portland.

For more information, call Jody Leary at 624-6692 or e-mail hiv.doe@maine.gov.

Quilts, in general, have long been a symbol of warmth and comfort. They remind us that individuals, when gathered in support of a common cause, make a cohesive whole strong enough to enlighten many.

Snippets

Betsy Doherty wishes to remind knitters and crocheters that the Scarves for Hearts Project which she initiated for WomenHeart, a part of The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, is ongoing and has been expanded to cover Waldo County and Mount Desert Island. Those who wish may create red scarves, which will be distributed to women heart patients. WomenHeart has support networks in Bangor and Ellsworth. For more information, e-mail Doherty at 2mileyc@gwi.net or call her at 359-8414.

The Page Farm and Home Museum at the University of Maine is expanding its annual Holiday Shoppe exhibits and sale. Dozens of traditional Maine craftspeople have been invited to offer their creations to the public.

The event is set for 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at the museum.

The public is invited to stop by and meet the artists and crafters, and to visit the museum’s old-fashioned gift shop stocked with traditional Maine-made crafts, clothing, books, artwork, pottery, toys and games.

At the event shoppers will find soap and candle makers, fiber artists, gourmet food artists, jewelry designers and representatives from local nonprofit organizations, including the Patch Friends Group dedicated to the preserving the legacy of Edith Patch, a famed entomologist, author and University of Maine teacher in the early 20th century.

Crazy about yarn and want to feed the mania? Visit www.yarndex.com, a Web site that is an encyclopedia of yarn in all its incarnations.

Talk to me: 990-8153 or e-mail ahamlin@bangrordailynews.net.