I came across this collective community activity whilst reading a book on photographs that changed the world. It wasn't the picture that attracted me in this instance though, it was the idea behind the event taking place within the image that caught my attention.
A HUGE quilt consisting of 40,000 individually handmade quilts was displayed in Washington on the 11th October 1996, to 'demonstrate', fundraise and raise awareness of the number of individuals who fall victim to AIDS each year. Partners, parents, siblings and friends, all created a section personal to themselves and then everything was stitched together. It became known by some as the 'carpet of mourning'.
As well as being a great way to bring communities together creatively, it rose awareness and gave people a platform and a therapy to help them through difficult times.
Instead of restricting myself to the information from the book, I found a website dedicated to the quilt and learnt that it is an ongoing event and not a one off like I presumed. The site gives you the opportunity to create a panel for yourself, view the quilt or host the quilt (in America).
The quilt was first displayed on the 11th October 1987, featuring 1,920 panels and covering a spare larger than a football field. It grew from then into the spectacular phenomenon it is today!
What started off as a small idea to bring the issue of AIDS to the publics attention whilst remembering those who suffered as a result, has turned worldwide. Cleve Jones held a march in remembrance to victims and asked each individual of the march to write on a placard the names of the people they have lost. He then taped all of these to the side of a building, which was commented on as looking like a patchwork quilt.... And the idea was born. It started off as small communities contributing, but as word spread, people from all over the world starting sending their panels and visiting the amazing display.
"The Quilt was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and remains the largest community art project in the world. The Quilt has been the subject of countless books, films, scholarly papers, articles, and theatrical, artistic and musical performances, including “Common Threads: Stories From The Quilt” which won the Academy Award as the best feature-length documentary film of 1989.
The Quilt has redefined the tradition of quilt-making in response to contemporary circumstances. A memorial, a tool for education and a work of art, the Quilt is a unique creation, an uncommon and uplifting response to the tragic loss of human life." - The Quilt
The fundraising becomes a by-product of the activity. People don't see the money side of the event, they see the contributing to a good cause, remembering the less-fortunate, and spreading the awareness. They enjoy getting involved and being part of something on such a large scale.
I am going to keep this idea in mind definitely and develop it possibly by creating my own event using the general idea. It would be a huge achievement if I pulled it off! Being realistic, I couldn't pull off something on such a grand scale as this (immediately). I would generate a project and build it up slowly, year after year. It is something I need to start thinking about. The more I can get communities involved and creative, the better; especially if it is benefiting children worldwide in the process. At this present time, I have no idea what my idea would be specifically, but I can begin to produce a map of ideas to expand on. Related to photography? Leave cameras in different locations and get people to take photographs what they enjoy about their lives, then post back to me? Create a mosaic of images in the public eye?
This idea has already been carried out in some form, I just can't remember who it was at the minute, so I need to research more in to their development and reason for the project, and then re-create it in my own unique way.
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