Google Alerts picked this up today.
Definitely NOT my cup of tea. I am definitely a traditionalist when it comes to quilts.
Cactus
I'm not wild about the quilt, either, but it IS art -- simply in a medium we don't expect for such a subject. I think the woman who pitched a fit at the quilt show was completely out of line, and probably a person who only believes in freedom of expression if it fits into her ideas. How sad! All that being said, I vastly prefer traditional quilts, and think the artist's message would be more widely accepted and understood in a more traditional art medium, such as oil painting. (Of course, the news about the quilt has certainly sent a message far and wide, too.) Oh well.
It never ceases to amaze me that something can be called "art" simply because someone somewhere decides that it is "art". Not my definition of art, but then I would be considered "unenlightened" and "ignorant". :) To each his own, I guess. I suppose the ultimate definition of "art" is that it is a personal expression of whoever is doing it. I hesitate to use the word "create", but I know many would disagree with me. There is enough variety in "expression" to suit everyone, but I do get tired of being told or treated as if I am too ignorant to "appreciate fine art". Phooey! Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Ah well. My sister is white-gloving at the show. I guess that was not the only "nude" quilt there. Interesting. BTW, not fussing at anyone here, just venting. lol
Cactus
Just thoughts in two directions (which is how my old brain usually works): I believe a quilt should be: beautiful, happy, comforting, warm, uplifting .... you can add your own words here. OTOH ( you felt this coming) I reckon any of us could get attention by assembling cotton pieces and making something offensive and ugly. Polly
There's quite a bit of art hanging in some very fine museums that I personally do not like, and some of it I find very offensive -- as I find this particular quilt to be, too. However, I support the artist's freedom of expression, just the same as I support free speech, including that which I find completely reprehensible. Such is life in a free society.
Meanwhile, I am working on THREE very traditional quilts -- a cathedral window (symbolic of Christianity), a Baltimore (pictures of patriotic items and native US flowers), and Foggy Bottom (named for where I designed it on a scratch pad during a very boring meeting). Art? Depends on your definition. With a message? Kind of.
I love quilts to be all the things Polly said. But I don't believe the artist in question ever intended her work to wrap up a crying baby. She is an artist who has chosen fabric as her medium. It's unfortunate that fiber artists are so often denied places in major shows of 'regular art', but the Mid-Atlantic is a major art show in its own way. I believe we will be seeing more and more challenging subject matter in quilts as more of the younger generation discovers that fabric looks dynamic and incredible when you start playing with it.
I haven't got the nerve to do 'adult' quilts. Wish I thought I had the artistic talent to get into one of the big quilt shows. But I think the inclusion of artistic expression not intended for a bed covering is a good thing for quilting in general. Let's keep those quilt shops open, extend the range of what's expected, grow more artists and quilters and .... yeah.
Wish I could see that show in person.
Sunny
I think you have hit the nail on the head there Sunny. Just because it is quilted doesn't make it a quilt to be snuggled in. Which brings us back to the thorny question of what it should be called. It is quilted art, doesn't mean you have to like it. I have been to many art exhibitions where I have thought "?!?!?!" about some pieces, loved others and would not give house room to the majority, simply because they were not my sort of art.
Lizzy
I don't know, Art is subjective. Some likes one thing and some likes another. I assume the artist means to be thought provoking, and she surly did provoke some thought. Would I hang it over my couch? No, probably not, but that is mainly because my couch sits in front of a picture window, not because I consider it offensive. There is plenty of quilting that I consider offensive, but that is of a more technical critique, and not of a subjective one. I would not hang any of those sorts of quilts over my couch even if it was not in front of a picture window. I guess I wouldn't hang the picture in question because I don't generally enjoy abstractions or modern styles of Art quilts. I do enjoy looking at the techniques they use, sometimes, but the overall "picture", is just not my cup of tea. I think she accomplished just what she was seeking to accomplish, she got noticed. In that sense, she was successful. John
Art usually reflex the artist and IMHO that is just what this quilts says. It's not so much a "quilt" as a statement of the artist. It could even be her way of talking about herself.
Donna in WA
This is a fascinating thread, and I so appreciate the thoughts others have laid out here. Over night it has caused me to think [that can be dangerous!], and to attempt to formulate a response. That last part has been like trying to herd cats.
Similar to the saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure", this textile piece in question may not be everyone's cup of tea. We should all be grateful and blessed we are able to say what we want, express ourselves as we want. I believe this can expand to life in general. There are things that others say or do that don't mesh with my personal outlook. That does not mean it is any less "okay", it's just not for me. I can choose what I read, or listen to, or view, unlike in many countries in the world. Likewise, no doubt there are many who do not "approve" of things I do, or create, or the way I live. And that is their choice to disagree.
No doubt I am not the only one who remembers the song that stated "different strokes for different folks".
The quilt show's curators took a bold step in accepting this piece to hang. They are to be commended for that. And I applaud the quiltmaker's expression of what she feels, doing it in a medium she is comfortable with.
JMHO, YMMV G> Google Alerts picked this up today.http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_new=s/sexually-explicit-quilt-on-di...>
On Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:31:42 -0600, Cactus wrote (in article ):
Not my cup of tea either. But I don't think I'd be so offended that I'd cause a ruckus at the quilt show either. So many artists are making quilts these days.
Maureen
Not a real artist, just someone who likes to play with fabric.
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!! Gen
Completely agree. Gen
Similar to the saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure", this textile piece in question may not be everyone's cup of tea. We should all be grateful and blessed we are able to say what we want, express ourselves as we want. I believe this can expand to life in general. There are things that others say or do that don't mesh with my personal outlook. That does not mean it is any less "okay", it's just not for me. I can choose what I read, or listen to, or view, unlike in many countries in the world. Likewise, no doubt there are many who do not "approve" of things I do, or create, or the way I live. And that is their choice to disagree.
No doubt I am not the only one who remembers the song that stated "different strokes for different folks".
The quilt show's curators took a bold step in accepting this piece to hang. They are to be commended for that. And I applaud the quiltmaker's expression of what she feels, doing it in a medium she is comfortable with.
JMHO, YMMV G> Google Alerts picked this up
According to the artist's web page, this quilt was supposed to have made the rounds to a lot of shows! I attended the PA Quilting Extravaganza in September, and didn't see it or hear of it there. I wonder if they just didn't display it?
I'm glad you mentioned Renaissance paintings. The Carnival Pride cruise ship has Renaissance paintings on the wall all over. Well endowed women and men. There's a huge statue of David in all his glory near the restaurant of same name. I never once saw anyone giggling, etc.at these, and there were tons of kids and teen-agers on board. No adult made a fuss. I can only assume that if a comment was ever made, it was handled tactfully. Most paid no attention at all. Gen
. I'll never forget the time I was traveling with students in
I love what everybody has said. This is a piece of work intended to provoke thought and discussion. And it's done so. The one thought that popped into my mind reading these posts, I remember as a little girl being ashamed of my 'parts.' I carefully hid myself from ... everyone, including myself. Because I was taught that nakedness is the first step to sin. I wish every artist would let women's 'parts' be included in some piece of art. Then maybe little girls would grow up realizing that there is nothing about them that is shameful and that has to be hidden for fear of provoking some unnamed and horrible sin.
Just me rambling.
Sunny
Well, that's some pretty fine rambling. You are absolutely right. I grew up in the Bible Belt, in a very conservative home, and your thoughts sounded familiar. :-) I thought the quilt was very interesting and showed awesome talent. The subject matter isn't my bag, but I wouldn't have made a big deal out of it. I wonder how big it is?
Sherry
Very interesting, this discussion reminds me of a print that hung in my grandmother's furnace room, which was also uncle Tony's den. We children were always told that it was Uncle Tony's favorite picture. It was a very well endowed, Rubenesque, lady, as she lay tastefully, and nude on a chaise lounge. She had breasts and a very large "rump" and thighs. The picture was always there, never hidden, we saw it as children and as adults, we never questioned the right or wrong of it, because it was Uncle's picture, and grandma said it was alright!
A few years ago maybe 2004 or 2006, there was a whole section at the Pacific International Quilt Show in Santa Clara, California called "The Vagina Quilts." I guess it all just takes a few years to move east.
Kay Ahr in Reno Sparks, Nevada USA (where prostitution is legal)
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