QuiltCon 2017

Bling (Best of Show) by Katherine Jones

I thoroughly enjoyed my first QuiltCon, in Savannah this weekend. Here are some of my favorite quilts.

Wavelength by Rebecca Bryan, quilted by Angela Walters

 Wholecloth by Angela Walters

 Ventana by Allison Glass,  quilted by Angela Walters

Madonna by Brittany Bowen Burton, quilted by Natalia Bonner

 by Brittany Bowen Burton, quilted by Natalia Bonner

Not Easy Being Green by Mary Keasler

 Not Easy Being Green by Mary Keasler

Go North by Maritza Soto

Go North by Maritza Soto

designed by Lisa Congdon, pieced and quilted by Gina Pina

Boulder Field by Kathy York

Caged by Amy Friend

Vertigo by Elaine Poplin

Finding the One by Miriam Coffey

Still With Her by Liz Harvatine

Meeting of the Geese by Sylvia Schaefer

Synapse by Kari Vojtechovsky

Synapse by Kari Vojtechovsky

Community quilts made for the Emanuel AME Church Project

Moonie McMoonFace by Melissa Averinos

Tulsa by Jane Swanson

Tulsa by Jane Swanson

Folksy Fish by Sarah Sharp; quilted by Karlee Porter

Square Count Game by Debra Jalbert

Square Count Game by Debra Jalbert

Say Anything by Lisa Flower

Wax and Wane by Susan Kyle

Whatever by Katie Larson

Big Island Blossoms by Sherry Cifaldi-Morrill

Through My Lens by Brigitte Heitland

Jubilant by Maria Varner

Bioberella by Hillary Goodwin

Bioberella by Hillary Goodwin

Tea and Skittles by Thomas Knauer

Tea and Skittles by Thomas Knauer

In Carrboro by Chawane Kimber

Inside Out by Sue Bleiweiss

Dipped Dimension by Kathleen Probst

Dipped Dimension by Kathleen Probst

Gradient in Denim by Matthew Boudreaux

Gradient in Denim by Matthew Boudreaux

Smoke by Katherine Jones

Smoke by Katherine Jones

Safety Network by Sherri Lynn Wood

Finding Harmony by Cinzia Allocca

Finding Harmony by Cinzia Allocca

Scattered by Jess Frost

Scattered by Jess Frost

Lincoln by Kim Super

Black and White Botanical Quilt by Lesley Gold

Quilt no. 019: Of Discontent (back and front) by Shelby Skumanich

Quilt no. 019: Of Discontent by Shelby Skumanich

#CUquilt by Ginerva Martin

#CUquilt by Ginerva Martin

I Know the Stars are There Beyond the Clouds, 2 by Heidi Parkes

I Know the Stars are There Beyond the Clouds, 2 by Heidi Parkes

One of the beautiful QuiltCon ribbons

Autumn is Wistful by Chawne Kimber

Autumn is Wistful by Chawne Kimber

Tartan Tattoo by Linzi Upton

Volunteer showing back of Tartan Tattoo by Linzi Upton

Tartan Tattoo by Linzi Upton

Infused Plaid by Cassandra Beaver

Direction Optional by Stephane Ruyle

Direction Optional by Stephane Ruyle

Austin Quilt by Gina Pina

Austin Quilt by Gina Pina

The Disintegration of the Persistence of Artichokes by Sylvia Schaefer

The Disintegration of the Persistence of Artichokes by Sylvia Schaefer

Learn more about the Modern Quilt Guild and Quilt Con here: https://community.themodernquiltguild.com/home

Why I protest

“When the artist is alive in any person, whatever his kind of work may be, he becomes an inventive, searching, daring, self-expressive creature. He becomes interesting to other people. He disturbs, upsets, enlightens, and opens ways for better understanding. Where those who are not artists are trying to close the book, he opens it and shows there are still more pages possible.” – Robert Henri

Most of my art is “pretty.” I like showing people the miracles I see in the natural world. I think that is because at heart, I am an optimist. I choose to turn my face to the light. Even in troubling times, I try very hard to keep my chin up. 

It’s been hard lately. I look at my country, which I love so much, and I see so much discord and hate and fear. So much failure to communicate. I believe that if we do not figure out how to start listening and talking to each other, our country is doomed. And I believe that art is an essential part of communication.

I am a complex person, and there is more to me than my beautiful fiber art and photographs. I know who I am. I have strong emotions and strong opinions. And I am not afraid to speak them. This, apparently, makes some people angry. Very, very angry.

When I posted the Call for Entries for “Threads of Resistance” on social media, and each time I posted updates, I got nasty comments. Some contained offensive names for our former president, mocked Hillary Clinton, and dripped with vitriol, with tones by turn scornful, angry and jeering. Sadly, the long presidential campaign season has hardened me to this kind of language. It is the language of Donald J. Trump, now made acceptable, and echoed by millions of Americans. I expected it. I’m used to it by now. 

What did baffle me were the comments that basically told me that my role was to provide eye candy and keep my mouth shut. That I was using my “platform” to undermine the government,” that quilting and politics should never mix, that I was making people sad or disturbing the sanctity of the peaceful quilting community. Or that I was being unpatriotic by not completely supporting the president or “giving him a chance.”

Ummmmm.... what? Here are my thoughts on those points:

1. It is not my job – or the job of any artist – to make pretty pictures that make people happy. Sure, I do that most of the time. But I also don’t put my head in the sand and ignore what is happening around me. I make art about what moves me emotionally, what I am passionate about. Yes, I keep my face to the light. But I will not ignore the creeping shadows.

2. Quilts can be art. Throughout history, artists have used their work to protest. For a quick look at some protest art, try googling "protest art" images. Women, who have throughout history had fewer options available to them, have long protested in their needlework – embroidery and quilts. One could argue that Betsy Ross’ first American flag was protest art. Women have made quilts in the cause of many protests: temperance, women's suffrage, reproductive rights, anti-war, and civil rights.  
 
 3. Telling me to keep my mouth shut and my opinions to myself is flat-out intimidation, and it is wrong. It is especially wrong if it is said in a rude or threatening way. It would be very easy for me to keep my mouth shut right now. I am taking a risk, and I know it. I am willing to do it because I think the risks – to me, to my children, to Americans, and to democracy itself – of not speaking out are greater. If I don’t speak out, I am complicit.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
– Martin Niemoller (1892-1984), pastor and outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler

4. Protest is patriotic. Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official.” If Americans had not chosen to protest, we would still be a colony of England. We would still have slavery. People of color and women would not have the right to vote. “Coloreds” would still be using separate drinking fountains and bathrooms and going to separate schools. People would not have the right to marry the people they love, regardless of gender. The list goes on and on...

I am not advocating a violent overturn of the government. (One of the commenters suggested that I sided with Madonna, who said that she thought about blowing up the White House. I do not; I think her remark was wrong.) I am merely exercising my right to speak freely through art – a right given to me as an American under the First Amendment:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

When things that are important to me come under fire – truth, a free press, religious freedom and separation of church and state, the influence of hate groups in government, to name a few – I will always speak up. 

• • • • • 

At its core, art is communication. It is an artist’s way of saying, “Look at this! Please… see what I see!” Sometimes that is beauty. Sometimes it is pain. Sometimes it is a viewpoint. It is my hope that the fiber art in the “Threads of Resistance” exhibition will make people think, make people feel, make people consider another perspective. 

For more information on “Threads of Resistance,” please go to the Threads of Resistance website. 

Threads of Resistance

The Artist Circle presents “Threads of Resistance,” a juried exhibition of work created to protest the Trump administration’s actions and policies.

We invite you to consider the theme “Threads of Resistance,” and create work – fiber art, art quilts, modern quilts or traditional quilts – to convey your passion, anger, or sadness about an issue that concerns you. Your work can be either positive (encouraging and unifying), or negative (portraying anger, sadness or discouragement). Possible themes include:

Refugee crisis

Immigration

Environment

Climate change

Black Lives Matter/racism

Attack on science

Gag rules on federal employees

The Women’s March Jan. 21, 2017
Sexual violence/sexual assault

Equal rights/equal pay for women

Women’s reproductive rights

LGBT rights/gay marriage

Freedom of the press

Fake news and lies

Supreme Court nominees

Education

White nationalism/supremacy

Electoral college

Border wall

“America First” policy

Income disparity

Freedom of religion and worship/religious discrimination

Gun control/gun violence

General information

• You may submit up to three pieces of work. Multiple works by a single artist may be accepted.
• Entry will be through an online system.
• The entry fee is $30 for up to 3 pieces.
• Each entry must include an artist’s statement that will accompany the piece in the exhibition(s). Curators reserve the right to edit artist statements for clarity and length.
• Submissions must be a minimum of 20” wide x 20” high, and a maximum of 48” wide x 60” high.
• Nothing can hang off the bottom or sides of the piece.
•  No sharp or fragile embellishments.
• Each piece must have a 4” fabric hanging sleeve on the back. (Further instructions will accompany acceptance notifications.)
• No mounted or framed work can be accepted.
• No material in your piece may be copyrighted.
• No work may include a call to violence. (But it may portray violence, or include profanity or nudity, as long as it supports the theme of the piece, and is not gratuitous).
• Information about the exhibition is available at http://www.threadsofresistance.blogspot.com, which will eventually feature works and artists in the exhibition. 

Other issues still under consideration:

• We are seeking venues, and do not know how many venues might be interested. Information about this will be announced on the blog. 
• We are unsure about the size of the exhibition (the number or works that will be accepted) because this is dependent on the venue. 
• Entry fees will be used to cover the online entry system, marketing, and as much of the return shipping costs as possible. Exhibitors will be responsible for covering the cost of shipping their entries to the exhibition venue. Any excess money will be split between the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), and IRC (International Rescue Committee).  
• We are planning to publish an exhibition catalogue.

Important dates

Feb 14, 2017: Online entry opens
May 1, 2017: Online entry closes

On or before June 1, 2017: Acceptances/rejections will be sent out via e-mail.

Interested?

E-mail threadsofresistance.exhibition@gmail.com to put your name on the e-mail list to get news when the online entry system goes live.

The Artist Circle

Sue Bleiweiss

Susan Brubaker Knapp

Judy Coates-Perez

Jane Dunnewold

Victoria Findlay Wolfe

Jamie Fingal

Lyric Montgomery Kinard

Melanie Testa

Leslie Tucker Jenison

Kathy York

Click here to download this Call for Entries as a printable PDF.