Daniel Calderon, curator at the SFO Museum, focuses on creating immersive exhibitions for the 52.3 million travelers at the San Francisco International Airport. The museum is uniquely accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, allowing it to collaborate with major collections. Calderon recently organized the installation of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, a project that took four years to complete. The quilt is on display until March 22, 2026, and aims to connect travelers with the history and impact of the AIDS epidemic, providing a poignant experience for those affected.
"These galleries are little oases," he said on a recent Tuesday afternoon, gesturing toward a brightly lit exhibition space just past the security checkpoint in Terminal 2.
"We are the only museum inside an airport accredited by the American Alliance of Museums," Calderon said. "We are held to the same standards as the Smithsonian Institution..."
The AIDS Memorial Quilt, originally created in 1987 to honor those lost to the AIDS epidemic, is on view through March 22, 2026.
The whole project took him four years, but it was worth the wait. "People are so happy to see this here - people who are connected to the AIDS epidemic..."
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