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AIDS MEMORIAL
STRUCTURED MEMORIES Written By: Casey Lange and Amanda Younger
AIDS MEMORIAL PARK — JOHN MOORE
The NYC AIDS Memorial stands on the site of St. Vincent’s
Tepper, who sat down to speak with NYC Pride, is deeply proud
Hospital, which held the city’s first AIDS ward and served as a
of the memorial and the fundraising efforts to maintain it, but
de facto memorial and place of remembrance. When plans were
most of all, he is, “thrilled to see that other organizations have
announced to demolish St. Vincent’s, Christopher Tepper and
used the memorial for press events, protests, and advocacy
Paul Kelterborn founded a grassroots advocacy effort to design
events.” In honor of WorldPride and the 50th anniversary of the
and construct a memorial in the hospital’s place. In November
Stonewall Uprising, the memorial will host a special exhibition:
of 2011, The NYC AIDS Memorial launched an international design
Visual Impact on Art, AIDS, and Activism. Featuring iconic AIDS
competition. With over 500 architects in contention, Brooklyn
activism posters and new works installed on the surrounding
based Studio a+i, led by Mateo Paiva, Lily Lim, and Esteban
sidewalk, the exhibit will stay in place through World AIDS Day in
Erlich, won the competition with their design of an 18-foot white
December. Tepper noted that, “with all the tourists and visitors
triangular steel canopy, and granite water fountain patterned in
and people streaming into the city to celebrate WorldPride, [this
concentric rings. Visual artist Jenny Holzer arranged passages
exhibit] will help link that history and legacy of advocacy, from
in the pavement from “Song of Myself” (1855), Walt Whitman’s
the Stonewall generation to the AIDS generation.”
poem of hope, unity, and human dignity. The memorial provides a contemplative, communal gathering place and serves as a rallying cry for advocates—a reminder of the work still to come.
Without continuing advocacy efforts, those living with HIV could be stripped of crucial healthcare coverage. As of 2015, the CDC estimated that over 1.1 million U.S. residents are living with HIV, with a reported 15% unaware of their infection. In the state of New York, 48,824 people were living with HIV, with 38,441 in New