Often postings, comments or questions come across my radar through one of several online message boards or forums I subscribe to which really trigger a strong reaction in me. This is occasionally a negative response, but more often what happens is I feel a need to really dig into the idea and really express my feelings and thoughts.
This question was posted to a group's Facebook page on July 10, 2012:
Like if you agree: “When a quilt is moved
from a bed to a wall it becomes a piece of art. Something to look at not
something to use. Untouchable. Higher.”
57 People "Like" This
Response 1: Melissa J - Who says "art" has to hang on a wall? Do you have to remove a quilt from it's function to appreciate it's aesthetics? No. Absolutely not.
Response 2: Carola K -I don't agree! Art can be on beds, on walls or elsewhere. And quilts can be art - or "just" quilts. How do you define "art"???
Response 3: Melissa D (aka Me) -I don't agree either. In fact I am not pleased with the recent trend of those who only define or make quilts to hang on the walls like a tapestry. Yes I want my quilts to be lovely - but once they get larger than 40" square I also want them to be USED.
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After I wrote my response above I realized I had a lot more thoughts about the issue than I had time or space to vent in the small space given originally.
Merriam-Webster defines a "quilt" as:
Don't get me wrong. I have made quite a few "wall quilts" myself. I have a collection of them that I rotate on a regular basis in my Dining Room and office space. But they are made small in order to fit a specific space. I have nothing against small quilts made for this purpose. Among other things, it lets me try a variety of different techniques and patterns without the commitment of a King Sized quilt.
But there is now an entire new group of items called "Art Quilts". And there are several large groups of quilters who identify themselves as Art Quilters. One of the larger groups is called the Studio Art Quilt Associates's . Their website lists the definition as:
First off - am I the only person who thought that definition/statement could not have been vaguer or more pretentious? Perhaps it is just me. Perhaps I am missing some type of specialized art appreciation gene. Because 90% of the time when I see "art quilts" find it difficult to see past the "What the ....?" factor and see the workmanship. But then I do not really see the appeal in most "modern" art. I have no appreciation for Pollock, Lichtenstein, Warhol or Mondrian.
Getting back to the original query though ... does putting a quilt on the wall suddenly change it to "art"? And why would the assumption be that they are now "untouchable"? I don't want any of my quilts to be labeled "untouchable". I want people to touch them, appreciate the texture of the different fabrics or embellishments. I want my larger quilts to be snuggled under on the couch, make you feel cozy curled up in a chair and used to keep you toasty during a winter's night sleep.
I think I may need to do another post just on the issue of appreciating the artistry of "regular" quilts and their makers.
57 People "Like" This
Response 1: Melissa J - Who says "art" has to hang on a wall? Do you have to remove a quilt from it's function to appreciate it's aesthetics? No. Absolutely not.
Response 2: Carola K -I don't agree! Art can be on beds, on walls or elsewhere. And quilts can be art - or "just" quilts. How do you define "art"???
Response 3: Melissa D (aka Me) -I don't agree either. In fact I am not pleased with the recent trend of those who only define or make quilts to hang on the walls like a tapestry. Yes I want my quilts to be lovely - but once they get larger than 40" square I also want them to be USED.
************************************************************************
After I wrote my response above I realized I had a lot more thoughts about the issue than I had time or space to vent in the small space given originally.
Merriam-Webster defines a "quilt" as:
a bed coverlet of two layers of cloth filled with padding (as down or batting) held in place by ties or stitched designsThis is the traditional definition. The one I understood to it to be when I first learned to quilt. In fact, when I was first learning I thought that quilts were hung only for shows. I didn't fully realize that some quilts were made specifically to hang on a wall.
Don't get me wrong. I have made quite a few "wall quilts" myself. I have a collection of them that I rotate on a regular basis in my Dining Room and office space. But they are made small in order to fit a specific space. I have nothing against small quilts made for this purpose. Among other things, it lets me try a variety of different techniques and patterns without the commitment of a King Sized quilt.
But there is now an entire new group of items called "Art Quilts". And there are several large groups of quilters who identify themselves as Art Quilters. One of the larger groups is called the Studio Art Quilt Associates's . Their website lists the definition as:
SAQA defines an art quilt as a contemporary artwork exploring and expressing aesthetic concerns common to the whole range of visual arts: painting, printmaking, photography, graphic design, assemblage and sculpture, which retains, through materials or technique, a clear relationship to the folk art quilt from which it descends.
First off - am I the only person who thought that definition/statement could not have been vaguer or more pretentious? Perhaps it is just me. Perhaps I am missing some type of specialized art appreciation gene. Because 90% of the time when I see "art quilts" find it difficult to see past the "What the ....?" factor and see the workmanship. But then I do not really see the appeal in most "modern" art. I have no appreciation for Pollock, Lichtenstein, Warhol or Mondrian.
Getting back to the original query though ... does putting a quilt on the wall suddenly change it to "art"? And why would the assumption be that they are now "untouchable"? I don't want any of my quilts to be labeled "untouchable". I want people to touch them, appreciate the texture of the different fabrics or embellishments. I want my larger quilts to be snuggled under on the couch, make you feel cozy curled up in a chair and used to keep you toasty during a winter's night sleep.
I think I may need to do another post just on the issue of appreciating the artistry of "regular" quilts and their makers.
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