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		San Francisco Sentinel August 5, 1988 AIDS Memorial Garden Nears Reality San Francisco artist Rudy Lemcke hopes that by the spring of 1990, veterans of the AIDS epidemic will have a memorial they can visit to express the same bittersweet spirit of "collective loss and love" that veterans of the Vietnam War bring to The Wall memorial in Washington, DC. Appearing with Supervisor Harry Britt Tuesday morning at the Harvey Milk Plaza in Castro Street station, Lemcke told reporters that his ten-hear dream of creating a memorial for the gay community was only $250,000 away from reality. With Britt’s help, the plan to expand the Harvey Milk Plaza into an AIDS memorial garden has already met with approval from the city’s Public Works, Arts Commission and MUNI. "There have never been any obstacles, only details to work out," Lemcke said. Faced now with fundraising, Lemcke is undaunted by the challenge, believing that once the community understands the concept, donations will be forthcoming. Lemcke showed reporters a miniature scale model of the garden which he plans to duplicate in the currently unlandscaped area adjacent to the Castro Station main entrance. The replica showed a river of bronze stones encircled by larger bronze boulders which patrons can sit on. The garden floor juxtaposes geometric and organic patters, and the north wall is refaced with a rose-colored marble. A quotation from Walt Whitman will be inscribed on this wall: "Comrades mine and I in the midst and their memory ever to keep." According to Lemcke, "This work of public art addresses the reality of the AIDS epidemic as one of the most tragic events in the history of our city. The garden is not about the disease. It is not about lifestyle or sexual preference. The garden is about the dignity of life. It is about the integrity of each individual and the bonds that connect us together as a community." "The [NAMES] Quilt means a lot, but it’s not something you can always go see," added Britt. "This memorial will serve to remind us of the lives lost in the same way the Vietnam Memorial has affected people. It’s important that it’s in the Harvey Milk Plaza because had Milk lived, he would have had no greater passion I his life beyond his responsibility to the people." The Harvey Milk Plaza was dedicated in 1985 to the nation’s second openly gay legislator. During the late ‘70s, after the assassination of Mayor Moscone and Supervisor Milk, Lemcke began mulling over the idea of creating a memorial for the slain public official. Soon thereafter, he read in the paper about an unidentifiable, "John Dow #129" who had been killed during a gay bashing spree in the Tenderloin. "The article made me think about the value of each life," said Lemcke. "There would be buildings named and plazas dedicated to Moscone and Milk, but who would remember John Doe #129? The idea of a Zen-like garden with a central image of a river of bronze stones came to mind. The river would symbolize the unique beauty of each life and the interwoven bonds that connect these lives to a larger whole—all moving together with in this cycle of life." AS the AIDS epidemic became a central theme in the life of Lemcke and his friends, the notion of an AIDS memorial further defined Lemcke’s visions. In the spring of 1986, he met with the city Arts commission to see if his project was feasible. After months of planning and negotiations, Lemcke received approval from the San Francisco Arts Commission last November. "He’s’ been willing to work through the bureaucratic process," praised Jill Manton, curator of public art of the commission. " He worked well within the system and did everything by the book." In addition to grants from environmental, urban development and arts organization, Lemcke will be seeking money through private donations. According to Gwen Craig, grant associate for the Vanguard Public Foundation, proceeds for the AIDS Memorial Garden are now going to the Bill Kraus Fund.

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