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????

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 :)

To me fiber arts could be a weaving,almost anything that would have fibers. In art classes in college you could do all sorts of things to hold fibers together so that they could hang in a artistic expression; you absolutely could NOT sew the fibers into a construction that the professors could recognize as being anything remotely resembling a quilt. The art world does not recognize any connection at all between fiber arts and quilting. A fiber art installation seldom has fabric, it would more often have yarn. The only connection I can think of between fiber art and art quilts is they neither one keep anyone warm, both being hung and displayed. That's really a slight connection.
Fiber arts is usually considered an art, quilting is a craft.

A quilt to be used on a bed can also be a work of art. I mean with a picture appliqued., or as in watercolor quilts, if made large enough.

There is room for both, I tend to lean toward art quilts because I have never liked following directions! LOL! Wish people could learn to appreciate them for the talent and workmanship just as I can the dedication it takes to make a more traditional pattern. A lot of the more traditional patterns are rather daunting to me!

IMHO, I think that any art that uses fibers ie: threads, fabrics, etc should be considered Fiber Art and to me that includes art quilts and traditional quilts.

I appreciate the traditional quilts and the workmanship that goes into them. I love to see them and will ooh and ahh just as much as I do when I see what is deemed a "Quilt Art" I just prefer to work with different patterns than the traditional blocks. But I do love a log cabin quilt and a snowball quilt!

I believe much of what you say is outdated. The "art world" is rapidly changing it's attitude thanks to the hard work of many talented fiber and mixed-media artists and there is doubt in my mind as to how attuned to the real world of art college professors truly are, especially in a medium as fluid as fiber and textiles.

For most purposes, 'quilt' is defined as three layers, held together by stitching. The layers may or may not be fabric, the stitching may or may not be thread, for quilt/fiber/textile art purposes. A ham sandwich held together by a toothpick does not qualify, however. :lol:

:thumbup:

It is also my experience that it is the trad quilters who demonstrate more prejudice toward art quilts than vice versa. A quilt isn't defined by it's use, ie that it should be made to go on a bed, but by it's construction as specified above - 3 layers etc. I now consider myself primariliy an art quilter but started with traditional - I think it is a very good way to develop the technical skills need, ie the craft, that must be evident in the art pieces. Some are happy to stay with the traditional and that's fine, others wish to develop the craft into art, that's also fine. I get very upset when I hear or read derogatory remarks about EITHER group. :?

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 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.

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.

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:

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.

I agree.

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

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

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.

Since I'm over fifty, and have made the switch to art quilts, I really don't have any preconceived notions about how young or old the art quilters are. Thank goodness that the quilters and the fabric manufacturers have ventured away from the calico's of the 1980's (all that was available when I started quilting).
If only the pretty calico's of the 80's were available, I don't believe that young quilters would be as excited to start quilting.

And if all that we had available was Joannes to shop at for fabric, no one would be quilting, and we would instead be waiting in line.

Back to the film "Stitches," the featured artisans noted that many of the winners had flowers and butterflies. It was the Viewers Choice that the quilt of the African Child was awarded.

...now I'll get off my soap box! :)

A quilt, by any other name is still a quilt!
You can keep the wine(I've never met a wine that I liked) and I'll take all of the quilts be they traditional or art. Love them all!

A quilt, by any other name is still a quilt!
You can keep the wine(I've never met a wine that I liked) and I'll take all of the quilts be they traditional or art. Love them all!