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-   -   Film on quilting shows- & traditional quilting v. art quilts (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/film-quilting-shows-traditional-quilting-v-art-quilts-t150992.html)

TanyaL 09-07-2011 12:48 AM

I would seriously hate to see the world of art quilts separated from the world of traditional quilts. If the first judging of a quilt were to be one that decided if it qualified to be in a show for art quilts or in a show for traditional quilts then I think the whole quilting world would be the loser. And I would equally hate to see the definition of art quilt broadened to include almost any sandwiched fiber art installation. I think that the way our quilt shows are administrated right now are exactly right.
Hopefully all discussion about art or traditional is merely academic.

gypsyquilter 09-07-2011 02:42 AM

i love it all - regardless of the label. The creativity, the passion and heart that goes in to what each person creates it what makes it art. There is room in the big wide world of fabric, thread and creativity for all of us.

SmickChick 09-07-2011 05:15 AM


Originally Posted by k3n

PS - BTW it is the new, young, innovative art quilters who keep this craft alive by developing it and bringing it to a whole new audience. Sorry, soap box alert! :lol:

I love the dialogue!
I believe that quilters kept the fabric and sewing machine business alive. And I believe that art quilters, or those who have stretched the traditional, have kept quilting, not "alive" but at least growing, growing, growing.

k3n 09-07-2011 06:00 AM


Originally Posted by SmickChick

Originally Posted by k3n

PS - BTW it is the new, young, innovative art quilters who keep this craft alive by developing it and bringing it to a whole new audience. Sorry, soap box alert! :lol:

I love the dialogue!
I believe that quilters kept the fabric and sewing machine business alive. And I believe that art quilters, or those who have stretched the traditional, have kept quilting, not "alive" but at least growing, growing, growing.


:lol:

I'll defer to 'growing' - perhaps 'evolving'? I didn't mean to imply that trad quilting was dead or dying even, just that art quilting by it's nature appeals to a younger audience, sweeping generalisation, I know. :mrgreen:

PS In it's day, what we now view as 'traditional' would have been 'avant garde'. I think there are two discussions - one about quilts as art as opposed to being strictly utilitarian and one about trad style versus 'contemporary' - at the latter changes with time. :-D

I love dialogue too, can you tell? :lol:

sandpat 09-07-2011 06:07 AM

I recently read an article about that encompassed the "sewing world" of today. It basically said that younger newbies entering the "sewing" world today are more into experimenting and being more artistic with their use of patterns. To me...this is where many of today's quilters are going also. So many of us use patterns as "suggestions" and then personalize things...sometimes this leads in a very "art quilt" direction, sometimes in a more traditional direction. I totally think there is room for all in the quilting world and hate to see anyone "dissing" a direction that isn't their own.

karenpatrick 09-07-2011 06:11 AM


Originally Posted by QuiltnNan
art quilts and traditional quilts both meet the dictionary definition of 'quilt'. just as there are many styles of building architecture, so are there many styles of quilting. variety is the spice of life :)

I agree.

deanneellen 09-07-2011 06:25 AM

For myself, I can equate quilting to drinking wines. Sounds funny, I know but if you think about it there is a parallel. When I first started drinking wine, all I wanted was the light fruity taste of the whites. Also, when I began quilting I loved the very traditional patterns and fabrics. Now that I have been drinking wine for a while, my palate has changed and I love the full-bodied reds just as much. Same with the quilting. I still love the tradional but find myself pulled to the artisitic quilts and modern fabrics. Am even thinking of jumping off the cliff (for me) and trying my hand at some that are more modern and artsy to see how I like the look and process. For myself, quilting will always be a growing and evolving journey.

Annie68 09-07-2011 06:48 AM


Originally Posted by SmickChick
I just came from a guild meeting. where we watched a film by
Jenalia Moreno, director of "Stitched, the Film".
Stitched is a fun-filled documentary following three quilters racing to complete their entries for the International Quilt Festival, ... Quilting legend Caryl Bryer Fallert , Hollis Chatelain ,and Randall Cook...
The film was very good and depicted the world of quilting very well. Her husband was allowed access to film the judging of the IQF Houston show. We saw just a sample.
She mentioned that she had to spend a lot of time marketing her film (selling dvds). During the Q&A after the film, one woman asked about the access to the judging. I bet that if the full version of the judges comments was included, she would sell a copy to EVERY entrant!

Also, her film showed the "rub" between the traditional and the art quilters. (I'm an art quilter, so I'm biased) but it seems that the traditional quilters, more that the art quilters, have their "threads in a wad" over the expanse of the quilting world today.
So what do you think: are art quilts really "fiber arts" and not quilts????

I own "Stitched" the film, and have watched it over and over, very enjoyable! I love both traditional and art quilts.
:thumbup:

k3n 09-07-2011 06:55 AM


Originally Posted by deanneellen
For myself, I can equate quilting to drinking wines. Sounds funny, I know but if you think about it there is a parallel. When I first started drinking wine, all I wanted was the light fruity taste of the whites. Also, when I began quilting I loved the very traditional patterns and fabrics. Now that I have been drinking wine for a while, my palate has changed and I love the full-bodied reds just as much. Same with the quilting. I still love the tradional but find myself pulled to the artisitic quilts and modern fabrics. Am even thinking of jumping off the cliff (for me) and trying my hand at some that are more modern and artsy to see how I like the look and process. For myself, quilting will always be a growing and evolving journey.

I like that analogy - AND, I like wine! :lol:

ghostrider 09-07-2011 08:21 AM

I think you'll find that many of those who have made the move to art quilting, are not as young as you may think. Lots of us started out as traditional quilters and simply got bored after years of following the rules. It has been not so much a jump as an evolution, albeit a speedier one for some than others, for the artists and audiences alike.

As k3n mentioned, the skills gained through traditional quilting are invaluable and serve well as a foundation for the exploration that is art quilting. I also think that background is why art quilters are apt to be far less critical of traditional styles.


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