So…where were we?
I have gone back and forth about what should happen next in this space after this weekend’s activity. [In case you missed it, there was this (not safe for work) guest post on WhipUp that was quickly followed with this (not safe for work) clarification here on this blog.] Every comment was allowed through to the blog at the time but then I closed comments here because I did not want to feel I had to provide a forum for personal attacks. For the most part, the comments received here and in email have been thoughtful and I value them–whether positive or negative. Thank you for engaging in the conversation.
I think it best just to write this morning, making a list of some of the issues. We will likely return to these issues in some depth later on.
Kathreen posted a follow-up today. In it she address a couple of things. First, she states her opinion on how she uses the space on her site to talk about art. It’s true, this current post is shocking to some of her current readers and might have seemed out-of-character for her; however, it’s not and she points to some examples.
Second, she points out that quilts have for many, many years been considered art and particularly worthy venues for protest and politics. This revelation isn’t new, and yet there is a constant quilts-are-not-art vein of commentary that seems to deny a century or two of truth. Heck, there are even pornographic quilts (no provocative photos there) that were featured in Quilter’s Home magazine by editor Mark Lipinski back in 2009. Let your imagination run wild about the quilts. I assure you they were non-salacious artistic works worthy of the forum, despite the furor the article caused.
What about my quilt? As I mentioned, it was a personal emotional reaction to situation and made as catharsis. It is an artistic expression and there should be no doubt that it is an elementary-level intellectual exercise; there could be no more ham-fisted way to confront this situation using cotton. Indeed, the use of the profanities in art is not new but it is new to the online quilting communities, it seems.
What now? Like I said, I will bring up some of these issues–art quilts, language, and race–again. Don’t expect me to revert to start making only Sunbonnet Sue quilts–well, unless I finally figure out how to outfit her as a vampire slayer. I will continue to make quilts that are meaningful to me and, when it feels right to do so, I will even share those projects with you in this venue. Those quilts are almost always going to be scrappy non-inflammatory patchworks. Visit again if you’d like to see more and if you’d like to engage in constructive conversation.
Come back later in the week for a few more f*ck blocks and a new non-controversial colorful handknit blanket! As always, the applied i-cord is a slog, but it’s a nice meditative respite right now.
Thanks.
I have nothing very interesting to say except I’d like to give you a big congratulatory hug right now.
Thank you for this follow-up! I’m fairly new to your blog, but I have immensely enjoyed your creativity. Looking forward to more!
Your quilts are amazing.
As I said over on WhipUp this morning, I don’t understand how you couldn’t tell from the title of the original post that there was language. Maybe because I have such a potty mouth myself.
There is a controversial sunbonnet sue quilt that’s made the rounds of quilt shows. I don’t remember if she’s homicidal or suicidal, but I know violence was involved.
I love your quilts and as a German I have no problems with swear words. So I say keep up the amazing work!
Have you seen the Sin Bonnet Sue patterns by UrbanThreads? Not sure if there is a vampire slayer but they are rarther un-traditional ;-)
You have my admiration and respect, C. You’re really are f*cking awesome :)
I don’t really have anything insightful to say other than I admire you and I admire your work. Also, I’d love to see Sunbonnet Sue as a vampire slayer. :-)
I was away from the internet all weekend, but have now caught myself up on the happenings here and at Whip Up. I think I’ve told you this before, but one reason why I enjoy your blog so much is that you push me. You are an honest and thoughtful crafter, and I’m grateful that we’ve crossed paths.
Definitely thinking about a Sunbonnet Sue + embroidered speech bubble with “fuck you” inside it, now.
… and it turns out that an artist has already made beautiful, troubling, devastating art quilts about violence against women with Sunbonnet Sue on them. Breathtaking (for real).
i think sue is far more happening than people give her credit for. ;)
These were troubling, thought provoking & fabulous. Thanks for the link.
I guess everybody is entitled to their own opinion right? Isn’t the beauty of art and of the internet for that matter that it is ‘free’ for everybody to express themselves?
Geesh. and it’s not that you didn’t give plenty of warning!!
Keep going C. &*^% them.
I can’t wait to see the furor that hand knit blanket is going to cause. Applied I cord? You’re just fanning the flames. <3
What Tina said!
Kathreen posted a link that talks about that Sunbonnet Sue! I think there’s been more than one, but here’s a good example. http://www.quiltindex.org/basicdisplay.php?kid=1E-3D-1
i think your work is awesome!, keep it up. :)
I missed the weekend controversy and while I caught up on the posts, I didn’t get very far into the comments. Constructive they were not. I admire your courage to put your quilts out there and I especially admire your public reaction to such an inflammatory (and often juvenile) response. I think you push boundaries that need to be pushed…and I know you will continue to. I hope that you’ll feel comfortable enough to bring those of us who admire your work along on those journeys…
Due to the whole whipup storm I found your work and now am a new subscriber to your blog. Your work is amazing. I am eagerly awaiting every new post! :-D
Carry on your artistic awesomeness! I love that you made some people think this weekend.
C
you are awesome!
as I have said before I wish I could sit in the kitchen over coffee with you and learn…
Donna
This whole situation is so interesting to me. I mean, obviously I think you are an amazing, honest, and brave artist. I think part of the goal of art is to provoke some sort of emotional response. Your work certainly does that, and I think that’s awesome – especially in a medium (quilting, cross-stitch, embroidery) that is so often considered “ladylike”. When a person sees your work (or any provocative work) and feels a strong negative reaction, it seems to me that it says more about the viewer. And to then dismiss that art as “bad” or “wrong” seems so short-sighted. Why not let it lead you to question and examine and discover?
Quilting and knitting (and other crafts) can be art in their own right. I love your take on quilts and value your honesty in talking about and making quilts. Keep up the good (and very interesting and inspirering) work!
i was here. i’ve already, emailed, a lot. just throwing out/in my support.
p.s. here’s an interesting movie on quilts and race/skin coloring
/the-skin-quilt-project
You are so very smart and your gracious response to some very shallow-minded people is inspiring in itself. I look forward to your continued sharing and the discussion it fosters.
Carry on!! And keep moving forward! Hugs.
I like that your quilts express what you are feeling and that elevates them beyond the mundane to me. And I like that you’re prepared to put yourself out there. And I’ll support you all the way (unless you make a quilt that says – that Lynne, she’s rubbish – then maybe I’ll waver! XXX
For what it’s worth, I find your work fantastic – your activist pieces inspire me to think about ways that i can express my own political experiences through craft.
looking forward to what you have up your sleeve! i know it will be thought provoking and pretty!
I must say, i was actually a bit shocked when I saw the comments on the Whipup site where you were features. I guess b/c I follow your blog, i didn’t find your art shocking. But even if if I hadn’t seen your work before, I’d never have that reaction as some commenters had. I guess I find it absolutely absurd when people exercise their freedom of speech and expression and then receive flack for it. While I love the “mother fucker” quilts, I probably wouldn’t have one in my family room at this time, but that is only because I have a 3 and 8 year old in the home that frequently bring their friends over. I just wouldn’t want it an issue. But i love them. I love that the limits are pushed and would have never thought to “quilt” about it. It’s ballsy, creative and just plain ‘ol awesome. Good for you and fuck all the nay-sayers!
Here’s what I have to say to the people that had negative comments to make:
“if you don’t like it…that’s fine but keep your fucking comments to yourself. you don’t have to love everything you see in the quilting world. but if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t open your pie hole.”
through this entire thing, I’ve been unable to get this song out of my head…
Don’t let the bastards grind you down! <3
I loved this song! How appropriate for a number of situations. Doesn’t hurt that it’s ska either. Saving the link for future needs :)
wowza what a weekend you’ve had! I love your quilts, both the scrappy and your quilts that take on the issues. Your blog and your art was one of the ones inspiring me to start sewing. You showed me that not all quilting has to be sunbonnet sues, and jewel toned halfsquare triangles. Thank you for sharing your inspiring work.
And I think vampire slayer sue would be a fun challenge!
I read your blog because you are very smart, you make things that aren’t “traditional”, and you have your own voice. I think it is good that you bring out issues that are kept quiet in many circles. Those words sting because we aren’t allowed to use them, but who says we can’t use them? Take a stand and take out the sting!
When I was a kid, my mom told me about the Native Americans, and how they didn’t have swear words, because they just said and described how they felt. They didn’t ban words and make them taboo to say. I’ve always felt that way about cursing. It offends some people, but in the end, it is just a word, and you can feel however you want to about it.
So I say keep up the good work! You inspire me to make things, and to think about crafting in ways I might not have considered before.
Nothing but awe and respect for you. Look forward to see what you put forth in the future.
Always stay true to yourself. No matter what you do there is always someone who will be offended by it. That’s there deal not yours.
I admire the grace with which you and Kathreen have handled this shit-storm. Every artist has a critic.
Suzzie the Vampire Slayer all the way!!!
Hey, the link to the pornographic-but-SFW quilts just leads to a dead-end link on your blog (I’m just trying to be a thorough reader here!). As for a nice meditative respite via i-cord right now, well, yeah, it’s Monday and I need meditation after my work-day, too, but I’m feeling as though all I do is slog through my knitting – spinning-weaving and oh, yeah, the QUIP (surely quilters use QUIP for quilt in progress?) on the dining room table – someday, could you write about the balance between New! Sparkly! Creative! Idea! and the long slog it takes to actually make something?
Thanks! I fixed that link.
I ended up having a really great conversation with a new friend in the middle of the night regarding the posts, the comments on them, and the comments of an acquaintance when I tried to open a discussion on another forum. I thank you for sharing something so personal, and whip up for being ballsy enough to post those photos and to stand by that post. Too many people would have backed down in the face of such a response, especially where advertisers are concerned.
I hope you’re well, and I’m very much looking forward to what you share next!
Sunny the Vampire Slayer — THAT I want to see! But then again, you already know that I want to see anything that you create.
I wrote about ai weiwei and shock art on my blog today and was thinking of you (not suggesting you intended to shock). I agree with the others, the way you and Kathleen have handled this is a credit to you both. It takes courage to be true to yourself, and put it out there in a work that makes some uncomfortable, I applaud you and continue to send my support.
I continue to be astonished at the claims of what art/crafts should or should not be. I can only conclude that many are unaware of the textile art history around the world, and the many ways it was and is used by women to express their pain, their anguish, their politics, their life.
cheers Corrine aka jafabrit
Hi there – I am sort of a lurker but I have been loving your website for quite a while now. I love that your quilting is not all cutesy, but funny and interesting. I find that it often inspires me. I must admit that the n word makes me uncomfortable but the f word makes me laugh, so there is -always- room in art for the reactions of the audience if you ask me.
I hope you weren’t discouraged in any way by the comments on the other article. I think you’re great :)
*applause* classy!
I applauded the original post(s) and now I have to applaud your (and Kathreen’s) response to all of the uproar. Inspiring, really.
Golly Gee! I take a break from the computer for a few days, and all heck breaks loose! ;) Nothing to add, except to say that I think your response to the shit storm has been classy and respectful, and I admire you for it.
Wandered over from whipup. Don’t have a problem with any of the words you are using. They are just words. Do with them what you will. It’s good to push boundaries, and there is no reason why quilts or crochet or cross-stitch shouldnt do that in the way that poems, or literature or painting can. In the UK there was an excellent programme a while back called ‘balderdash and piffle’, all about words. I remember Germaine Greer was on it, talking about the c word. She stood in front of a wall with it written in 8 foot high letters. All words have a context and a back story, which may be different from place to place. But how are we to change anything if we dont challenge old meanings and use words in the way that we want to…?
Love you, Hon. I wish we lived next door to each other. Take care if yourself.
Beth
You bring tears to my eyes with the power of your work and your bravery in sharing it. Also – I was just looking at sample pages of Fat Quarterly back issues and saw this one quilt that took my breath away. It was Bob. :) I think I officially have a designer-crush on you!
Thanks for always sharing – I am sorry that some people have been negative. I was upset at the comments about family-friendliness, so took the opportunity to discuss with my kids (4 and 8) that there are no bad words – but words have meaning and words can hurt. And if they ever need to know about a “bad word” or a word that makes them uncomfortable or unhappy, they can talk to me. So thanks for inspiring me to talk with them about words.
Hiya!
Tried to contact you off site but couldn’t find any details. Just wanted to send a solidarity wave atcha. Sometimes it’s funny being an artist in the craft world and having to explain to other makers that there is a long and incredibly diverse history of subversive, radical and unconventional craft. You might be interested in this slideshow of a presentation I give every now and then about the history of political craft http://www.slideshare.net/kakariki/fabric-of-resistance-msf-09 Anyhoo, I think your work is fantastic, both technically and for the ideas contained within. Keep up the incredible work.
Much love
Rayna
Enjoyed the slideshare :)
I got here via subscription to my whipup newsletter….. wowza! I’m totally impressed by your raw honesty. For reals! I am an amateur quilter and you’ve totally inspired me to think outside the box…. or jump the hell out of it & run down the street :) I just subscribed here…. looking forward to reading more.
xo ~
stephinie
I love that quilting IS art. I love the in art you can do whatever the hell you want because it is YOURS. I love that art can draw people into every kind of emotion – from rage to love, denial and praise. I love that you so openly share your art with us, & I love that your art always leaves me feeling thoughtful and inspired. Inspired by words to think, inspired by color to see, inspired by you. Thank you!
Thank you for not changing who you are or censoring yourself in response. You’ve always made me think, and many of your readers think, and I highly value that.
I’m late to this topic but can I just say that I LOVE what you do with your quilts. As someone who has been called many racial slurs in the past, including the n-word (long, painful story) seeing it on a quilt – something beautiful, well made, warm and comforting – healed a little of that hurt. So that’s *my* response to something you made for yourself and your own reasons. Also, I cannot understand how anyone can be offended by the word fuck. It’s a WORD. Made up of a collection of letters. Move the letters around and you get kucf. If kucf is not offensive, fuck shouldn’t be either. Unless maybe we all start saying “you are so kucfing awesome”. Which you are, by the way.
well, it does seem i missed a lot this week. i loved your post on WhipUp, and this and Kathreen’s follow-up posts. she has gained a new subscriber in me. you are awesome, as always.