"Each Pink Triangle Has His Own Story"

Rudolf Brazda, the last survivor of the so-called "Pink Triangles," men who were interned in concentration camps by the Nazis because they were homosexual, died this week at 98.  It is so important that we remember all of those affected by the Holocaust, so I thought this would be a good time to share some photographs of an old quilt of mine titled "Each Pink Triangle Has His Own Story."

Made in 1994, it was inspired by a dear friend of mine who had learned he was HIV positive.  He was a long-term survivor, but we lost him in 2004.  I chose the pink triangle as the primary symbol because it was being used then and now by ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), an organization devoted to educating people about AIDS.  The playwright, Larry Kramer and the artist, Keith Haring are two of its more illustrious members.

Because the aim of the Nazi system of labeling people was to remove their individuality, I decided I wanted to make a large pink triangle composed of lots of little individual ones. The equilateral triangle is very cooperative in that way.

I used lots of non-traditional quilt fabrics like brocades, lamé, satins, and suit knits, along with the cotton fabrics.  Some fabulous fabrics were essential.

This is the label on the back.  I chose the title because a gay man's story is the unique narrative of his life journey and is something he shares with his friends and family.