AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin is now a temporary home to a piece of what is considered the largest community arts project in the world.
A piece of the National AIDS Memorial Quilt is now on display in the Fourth Floor Gallery at the First Baptist Church of Austin, located at 901 Trinity Street. It is the largest display of the quilt in Texas history.
The Austin exhibit features 34 blocks that memorialize over 270 lives lost to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The entire quilt is a 54-ton tapestry that includes nearly 50,000 panels dedicated to more than 110,000 individuals, according to its website.
The quilt will be on display Saturday, Aug. 16, through Sunday, Aug. 24. There will also be movie nights, as well as a Service of Remembrance and Hope on the final day of the display.
Gallery hours:
- Sunday 1-7 p.m.
- Monday-Friday 12-7 p.m.
- Saturday 10-8 p.m.
- Friday, Aug. 22: open until 8 p.m.
Texas Health Action and the Kind Clinic helped bring the exhibit to Austin. According to the National AIDS Memorial, hosting local quilt displays helps support local HIV/AIDS service organizations and LGBTQ+ centers, while also raising awareness about health and social justice issues.
This story will be updated with photos of the exhibit and additional information from Texas Health Action Friday afternoon.