Thoughts About Art Quilts

by Patricia Cummings

Throughout this website, you will see photos of quilts that are considered to be art quilts. The genre is not entirely new. Crazy Quilts of the late nineteenth century, in the age of Queen Victoria, were the first consciously-made, purposefully-made art quilts. Today, there are two distinct kinds of art quilts: those made by trained artists who are just expressing themselves in yet another medium; and those made by hobbyists. Some would-be artists, who are not well versed in either art or quilting, think that it is advisable to utilize every possible, available technique in the same piece, so that it will be a successful "statement."

One does not have to have extensive years of education to make good art, or nice art quilts. What one does need is to be dedicated to doing an excellent job. Quilting is like anything else. You get out of it whatever you put into it. That includes the need to use quality materials. There are some great art quilters, far too numerous to mention by name. Some have written books, been exhibited in major shows, and some successfully sell their work. They teach, they judge shows, and they often produce examples that provide eye candy and inspiration for their students.

Pivotal Exhibit

When did this art quilting movement start anyhow? Those who do not know quilt history may not realize that it was not until 1971 that the way Americans viewed quilts changed exponentially. A quilt revival was underway, beginning in the 1960s, when some towns celebrated their Bicentennial, as did my home town in New Hampshire.

A landmark exhibit of "Optical Quilts" occurred in 1965 at the Newark Museum. Meanwhile, Jonathan Holstein and Gail van der Hoof, had been making regular runs to Pennsylvania to collect quilts with aesthetic and visual interest to them. In 1971, they mounted an exhibit of Amish quilts, hung vertically against the white walls of the Whitney Museum of Art in New York. This appears to have been the Aha! moment that changed the way we view quilts, forever - and the transition was rooted in an exhibit of TRADITIONAL AMISH QUILTS, no less!

Today, Anything Goes

Recently, when describing various art quilts, I stated that if you want to make a quilt to express your angst, hatred, and/or disillusionment with the world, then plan on keeping it in the back of your closet or assigning it to the landfill. That remark was interpreted to mean that I was saying that art quilters could not show their emotions in their work. That's not what I mean at all. The thought I intended to convey is that sometimes a message is meaningful only to the art quilter and therefore, other people may not buy the work because it is too abstract, or too indecipherable to have much meaning for others.

The interpretation of any art is always subjective.

Traditional Quilts and Embroidery "Dissed"

Art quilters, at least the more vocal ones, like to cast aspersions on traditional needlework and quilting methods that often require more self-discipline. Personally, I don't care whether a quilter has put a binding on a quilt, or opts to use an alternative edge finish. Whatever method is chosen, it should be done well. My motto is simple: Do the best you can, and if you don't know how to do a technique well, practice until you succeed at learning it

Any Art Work Should Stand on Its Own Merit

If a written description must be relied upon in order to "understand" a quilt, the quilt has fallen short of the mark. A quilt should have unity of theme and intrinsic merit in itself, aside from any other explanation. An effective quilt does not have to convey only one meaning. Whatever idea is being presented should be represented by appropriate supporting elements.

I happen to prefer awe-inspiring art that resonates with a greater view of life. That is why I like the wide range of work done by Goya. He did not just paint pretty pictures of vineyards. He painted death, war, violence, injustice, and the ravages of old age, as well as pictures of that show bucolic scenes of vineyard harvests. Goya's work has been revered for centuries because it is powerful, meaningful, and well-executed.

In judging any quilt (when I judge in a professional capacity) I look for an adequate treatment of the subject at hand, and fine execution of appliqué, hand quilting, and other visible techniques.

Traditional Folk Art Often Inspired by Trials

Latin American textile folk art is enchanting. I am drawn to arpilleras, especially because I know a little about why they are made, the story of los desaparecidos, and the women who are left behind to try to eek out a living by selling their textiles. In this folk art style, the images of llamas, the sun, and vegetables, that are quaintly stuffed and appliquéd, are cheerful. Yet the reasons behind the construction of arpilleras are not happy ones.

Equally, I'm attracted to beautiful work, like Hungarian Kalosca, knowing that the beauty is a disguise for protest, or at least used to be, traditionally-speaking. I love all kinds of art, and I am intrigued by art quilts of quality that demonstrate and inculcate the principles of good color, composition, proportion, scale, balance, and values.

Is Ego More Important Than Object?

No need for art quilters to be snotty, self-righteous, and ego-maniacal. Art does not have to be about ego. The fact of the matter is simple: one day, we will all die. As humans and living beings, that is our common denominator. Look at the birds in your yard. Can you make a bird? A real bird? From scratch? No, of course not. Some Greater Being has made the birds in your trees.

Have you given any thought to what will happen, ultimately, to the quilts you make, so carefully guard, and so vigorously defend? You will perish, and in time, they will too, although there's a good chance that your textiles at least will outlive you. Unless you go out of your way to add your name in a permanent and unmistakable way, chances are good that no one will even identify the textiles you make, as your work.

Quilting is important only for the joy that is inherent in the process of creating, and the expectations that surround that process.

Joy in the Process

Life is transient. We are on our journey, in real time. When we make a quilt for someone else, we anticipate how happy both we and the recipient will feel when the gift is presented. In the meantime, we have experienced the satisfaction of making something that did not exist before, with our own hands.

Consider This

As an art quilter, you should think about why you want to make art quilts. Before being a know it all, learn to accept criticism. That is the only way you will improve. Know when to work hard to improve your work, especially if you want to make it more marketable. If you are planning to make a career in quilting, want to get teaching assignments, or write published articles and books, and generally be recognized as an artist, do your homework.

I could say more, as I have considered this subject carefully over a long period of time. A few "art quilters" have stated that my thoughts are of no value, and I was told (quote) to blow it out my ears. I feel sorry for narrow-minded people. I really do. If you are reading this, but already "know it all," then why are you here?

We are on the journey of discovery together. Making art and creating quilts are reasons for celebration. They tell the world that we are still here. Good luck in your quest to find your own voice. Just do not discount the voices of older, more seasoned people. If you listen, perhaps you could learn something.

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WHY WE MAKE ART QUILTS

1)   It is catharctic.
2)    It gives us something to do.
3)    It is an artistic means of expression.
4)    We want to make something beautiful.
5)    We want to make something ugly because our emotion at the time, IS ugly.
6)    We want to make a "statement."
7)    We want to sell our work to others.
8)   We want fame or recognition from others.
9)   We want to participate in a fundraiser.
10) We want to participate in a challenge.
11) We want to win a ribbon.
12) We want the prestige of being juried into a show.
13) We are artists, so isn't that what artists do: make things?
14) We want to feel special.
15)  We want to "share" our talents.
16) Fill in the blank ____________. There are as many reasons for making quilts as there are people who make them.

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Additional Reading

Use the site map to find articles I've written about Baltimore Album quilts, Crazy Quilts, arpilleras, molas, Kalosca, and more.

Online article: "History of the Art Quilt" - excerpt from the book, The Art Quilt.

Another article on Wikipedia - traces the evolution of the art quilt movement.

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©Copyright 2008. Patricia Cummings, Quilter's Muse Publications, Concord, NH. All rights reserved. Do not reprint this information, in any form, without the express written permission of the author. Questions? Comments? Write to: pat@quiltersmuse.com