STORIES: The AIDS Monument
A new generation of AIDS monuments and memorials is upon us. In my research, I’ve categorized three periods of AIDS monument creation: the early crisis period, often before the advent of antiretroviral therapy; post 9/11 period, which often focused on intimacy and naming the dead; and the present, which includes bolder monuments focused on sharing stories and collective history. These new memorials include the New York City AIDS Memorial, which opened in 2016; The AMP: AIDS Memorial Pathway in Seattle, scheduled to be completed in 2020; and STORIES: The AIDS Monument in West Hollywood, California, which is slated to open in 2020. Both New York City and Los Angeles had existing AIDS memorials prior to these recent tributes. The AIDS Memorial in New York City’s Hudson River Park was dedicated in 2008 and Las Memorias AIDS Monument in Los Angeles was dedicated in 2004.
