A non-quilting male friend just sent me this link to a story about a newsworthy quilt in a quilt show. Apparently there was an uproar over the fact that it depicted a naked woman in more detail that one might expect on a quilt...hard to tell, though, since MSNBC blocked it out on the video. I have not seen the quilt, but first impression is that art is art, and we ought to let people express themselves without censure. More importantly, however, is that this quilt depicts the plight of a homeless pregnant woman literally stripped of all she owns. Since we are women who should be concerned about the plight of homeless, victimized women, perhaps we should be more upset about the ramifications of homelessness on women and children, and less worried about body parts, which presumably, most of us own. IMHO, I think the artist is trying to shock us into paying attention and solving the problem of poor women in this country and around the world. What do you think?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540...79136#41779136

I guess I agree with the last women. An artist can create how they want. Everyone does not have to like it. This is not a new issue in art, but maybe in quilting.

Why would a quilt be any different than a Painting...? People have been painting and sculpting naked people for .... thousands of years. Why would a fiber artist be held to narrow subject matter that is exculusionary .

I think there is a time and a place....perhaps a warning would have been appropriate?? or an option not to view it?

We currently have the bodies revealed exhibit in town--I remember a few years ago when it came to a bigger city, people were protesting--I found it to be a disappointment...

I guess if I was at the show with my kids, I would appreciate a warning and decision to view it or to bypass. JMHO

beautiful quilt, and yes the uproar should be over homelessness. my motto . . . don't like it, don't look.

I have my doubts as to whether this would be open to the public where I live. I know it wouldn't be in the tiny little quilt show here, and I don't think it would be in the next town either. It isn't my thing, but to each his own.

Art is art. I can't believe in this day and age people still call a naked body "pornography". Pornography is sexual content. This quilt, is not about sex and is all about awareness. I don't exactly care for it, but it doesn't bother me in the least.

This is an honest representation of a homeless pregnant woman. I agree, the uproar should be over homelessness and how it affects women and children.

ali

I'll have to click the link at home... work block. There was a magazine 6 months (?) ago that had controversial quilts. I believe one showed someone giving birth, one showed something with Jesus, things like that. And the publisher put the magazine in a plastic bag to avoid complaints about the "explicit" nature.

I agree that anyone should be able to express themselves however they want. I also think that there should have been a warning or separate area, because the viewers have the right to not see it for whatever reason. So not censorship, but a way to respect the opinions of all involved.

Since when did a quilt show become the Awareness showcase for all social ills? I go to a quilt show for escape of the world's stresses not to be reminded of them at every corner. How depressing to sit and study the subject intent of this quilt and who would want to?

I have the same opinion.

First off I never watch MSNBC, not my type of network. I would not waste my time looking at "art quilts". Everyone would like to make fools out of everyone, not playing those games.

Perhaps instead of spending all that time planning, creating, and getting the quilted qualified for the "show", the artist (?) should have spent the time actually DOING something practical for homeless / abused women.

Now, that would have made a statement relative to the issue.

Instead, the artist prefers an "in your face" message.

I agree completely with BellaBoo and merry.

What about sculptures? Have we not on federal and state properties ancient/ Greek sculptures and fountains that are on public display ( showing female and male genitals/ breasts), as of which, I remember studying in High school.
Paintings, sculptures, and other forms of art are part of our freedoms and history.
If the quilt show does not have a rule about such a quilt, walk on by if offended. Unless, you're just one of those people that are just looking for something to fuss about or perhaps just jealous of another ones talent.

Gabrielle's Mimi, Sorry if I misspelled your name. I have a very short memory. I agree anyone can design a quilt anyway they want, but personally, I wouldn't want something like that in my home. With the kids coming home with the grands and great grands, I think it would be rather unbecoming....

EXACTLY!!!!I could go on andon .And let alone all of the sex pushed on everyone on regular television. This quilt is art not smut.

Why can't it be? We use art in all forms/mediums to communicate and evoke emotion. Should we never have sad songs? Or only photos of happy moments in time?

Art is art. This quilt is beautiful, in its design and in its message. Nobody is asking anyone else to "like" it. Homelessness isn't really something to "like".

The artist DID do something - she got US all talking about homelessness, didn't she? How many people were reminded of the reality of homelessness by her message? ALL OF US, for sure. For a group that gives so much to charity we sure are judgmental about how others choose to contribute.

Not everyone is into fussy cutting kittens or sewing 5000 tiny pieces of cotton together into a grid that makes your hands hurt to look at it (which is what I'm doing right now). Some people quilt with a different message in mind, which we should still honor for its artistic contribution and the craftsmanship displayed.

I'll bet it's not nearly as depressing to sit and study this quilt as it would be to actually be homeless.

Sometimes people *need* offended and shocked out of their safe little middle class world.

So I'm guessing when you see scrap quilts you don't recall that our foremothers sewed them because they were trying to keep their families warm with their bare hands and a pile of rags?

A lot of the traditional quilts you see on this site every day invoke stories of times past, and not all of them were "happy fun times." We pass around Civil War and depression-era FQs like they're the latest thing, but they aren't - they are reminders of a time when quilting might have been a woman's only way to tell her story, or warm her child, or bury her husband.

I choose to honor our history when I quilt. It's fine not to think about it that way, but dishonest to pretend it isn't there.

People express themselves in different ways.

As with any piece of art, you are not forced to look at it.

If you don't like to look at it, don't look. Problem solved.

I would agree with this. The subject matter SHOULD be discussed with children (it's never too early to learn compassion), but in a manner less shocking than being surprised by a provocative piece of art.

I saw this quilt at the Mid Atlantic Quilt Show last weekend. The funny thing is - there were two other quilts with naked body parts on them as well as an ironing board cover with a naked man with only a scrap of cloth across his loins but none of these things made the news......

In theory, I agree with you about 'time and place'. The problem is WHO decides when it is the right time and the right place?

Did anyone notice that they only interviewed older women. I am 32 and think it is great art work and would let my 8 yo see it. There is no reason to be ashamed of the female body.

I noticed that too.

Call me a prude, but after looking at the quilt - I think the plight of the homeless could have been done in a more respectful way. Women took off their bras, but they didn't run around naked to prove...what were we proving?

Personally, I can't see the beauty in this quilt. Just my opinion. I am sure the creator is quite talented, however, it was a strange way to bring attention to homeless women and children and I find it inappropriate for a quilt show and question why they would allow such a showing with out presenting it with the option of to see or not to see.

Maybe it would have been better received if it had been auctioned off and the proceeds presented to a homeless shelter to actually help the homeless. Talk is just that.....without action. I am sure quite a lot of people would probably like it and bid on it.

I obviously haven't seen this quilt, but based on the detailed description, I would say that if I did I would be offended by it's graphic detail.

I do believe art is a very personal expression, but that doesn't mean that anything goes. I do think artists should use some discretion in their artistic voice, and it seems that this detail was unnecessary to express her view.

I don't think this artist did get her message across. We are talking about the explicit detail depicted on her quilt, not homelessness issues.

If the artist were all prudish and subdued in her portrayal we wouldn't be talking about it now. To me the nudity expresses this woman's exposure to the elements and public scorn while worrying how she's going to bring an innocent new life into that world.

Putting a snowsuit on her would pretty much defeat the purpose.

I get that art is art... but I don't take my kids to sections of the museum that have naked ladies. I am not offended by this, but I am in my thirties and I don't find this appealing at all. Much of the nudes painted and sculpted hundreds of years ago were to glorify the human body, not for "social" reform. The art/paintings that are similar to this quilt are done for shock value. I think the quilter wanted to offend people.

Personally, I think it is pornographic and should not be hanging where children might be.

Do you think ANYONE will look at this quilt and think that they should do more for naked, pregnant women showing off their privates while sitting in a box?

I'm changing my next quilt to one for the local women's shelter. *shrug*

It's a metaphor. Come on, now.

Janet M. I agree with you. I remember when I was just a wee girl, my grandmother and aunts sitting around the wood stove at night quilting. Personally, I would be embarrassed to put something like this on display.

Yes, I am aware of the figurative aspect of this quilt. However, I see it for what it is... not reading into it. I don't go to quilt shows to get the "metaphorical" meanings, but to appreciate the colors, the patterns, and the craftmanship that goes into the quilts.

Having grown up with an artist for a mother, I have been through hundreds of museums and can appreciate metaphorical art. This is not "art" that I can appreciate. No different, to me, than the metaphorical painting in the Smithsonian that showed Jesus in a jar of urine. I didn't care what the artist was TRYING to get across; all I saw was a disgusting painting.

MistyMarie wrote:
Do you think ANYONE will look at this quilt and think that they should do more for naked, pregnant women showing off their privates while sitting in a box?

It's a metaphor. Come on, now.
*****
A metaphor???? For what? Indecency?

A metaphor for being stripped of all you own, for being laid bare for all the world to see.

1. Perhaps this quilter was homeless at one time. Did any of you think of that? No, of course not, that's not a fun thought - is it?

2. How do any of you condemers know this women isn't actively working to reduce the plight of the homeless? You don't - it's to easy to cast stones with no thought!

I searched and searched for other points of view on this, from the media. I am disappointed that the only opinions I could find are those of NBC. Doesn't anybody else have anything to say about this?