Last Thursday, Friday and Saturday, I spent all day at the Original Sewing EXPO in Arlington, Texas at the Convention Center. I am a member of SAQA (Studio Art Quit Associates) and we had an exhibit at the EXPO titled "Wild Fabrications" which was a wonderful exhibit of very creative works of arts about animals. But what I really want to focus on in this blog is another exhibit that was at the EXPO...."Threads of Resistance".
Last year a group of fiber artists' (the Artist Circle Alliance) decided to put out a call of entry for a juried show after what was to many of us a disastrous result of the presidential election. Here are the opening words on their website to introduce what they were requesting from fellow artists to create.
"We seek to address current issues including climate change, sexual assault, immigration, the refugee crisis, racism, and sexism. The art in this exhibition expresses a range of emotions from anger and sadness, to our our hope for positive change."
They received over 500 entries to their call, and over 60 were selected to travel around the United States. We were fortunate to be one of the places chosen for exhibition. You can see all of the exhibit, as well as the other 400 plus not in the traveling exhibit as well as information about the artists and, in their own words, what inspired them to create what they did by going to this link.
While some of the entries were very graphic and might be considered rather vulgar, most were not. I personally was not offended and applaud the talent and creativity of all the works. They wanted to make a strong statement of what they believe to be a crisis in our country...again, I agree. But because of the possibility that some of the works of art might be disturbing to some of the pubic and certainly not appropriate for children to see, the controversial works were set aside separately with signs that warned of the possibility of offending some one etc. thus warning the public to give everyone a fair chance to avoid being offended.
I happened to be in the cordoned area when three women came in and one was just outraged by what she was looking at! I just mentioned that was why they had the warning signs posted so that people who might be offended could choose not to see what was inside. Boy! Did I get blasted!! But that's OK, I have tough skin! Several times throughout the days I was there, I heard lots of complaining of the exhibit. Ah, RED TEXAS!! I spoke to a couple of the vendors, one from California and another from the East somewhere. They had been at two or three other shows in other areas of the country where the exhibit had been held, and this was the first time they heard any controversy at all!
One lady came up to tell me that is was because of "that filth in that room"...that is what is the matter with our country!!! I didn't even try to explain to her what the works of art were trying to say...several graphic works about messing with women's reproductive parts, and several about "pussy grabbing", one portraying the president and Russia's president in a very close relationship. She just saw it all as pornography and couldn't see the real meaning of the art. (Again she was warned what was inside might be upsetting). Now, I have no problem with people not agreeing with me but the blind, bitter accusations were beyond just disagreeing! And I find very distressing!
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| By Kerri Green who is a Texas gal, a member of my local SAQA circle You can hear Kerri's words by going to the link here |
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| I love this girl!!! |
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| What lies are being told every day from the White House |
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| Elizabeth Warren by one of her constituents who highly admires her. |
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| I thought this was interesting...a quote from Teddy Roosevelt |
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| This was by a girl who attended the Women's March in her state and was afraid she would be the only one...this depicts what she found there. |
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| Can you see what is written here...several times? |
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| One of my favorites...such an impact on the immigration status. |
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| This was considered one of the controversial ones not sure why, it just shows how science is being destroyed by the current admin. |
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| Created by Judy Perez..one of my favorite fiber artists.. also considered to be controversial. |
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| And another controversial one...I love the simplicity of the message. The artist Sue Bleiweiss, is another of my favorites and one of the forces behind the call for resistance art quilts |
Jaye, I’m sorry it was so distressing. The reality is that this is Red, right wing, Bible Belt Texas. I applaud all the artists who submitted work and am sorry that I missed the exhibit and due to health issues last year was not able to participate in creating a work for the exhibit. I too woke up the morning after the election and cried my eyes out...and unfortunately, so many of my worries have come to fruition.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that I have found that women I have met who consider themselves art quilters are more liberal in their thinking. In SAQA, Not only have I found my tribe who share my love of creating but also my open mindedness. It is distressing that the labels “liberal” or “democrat” are considered demonic by so many.
Thank you, Jaye, for sharing your experience.
Thanks, Jaye. And wonderful that quilters are voicing about oppression. Probably some of the quilter ancestors did this, too?
ReplyDeleteI'm also glad the "offended" people saw the art. They may not have gotten the message (maybe a future moment will bring an eye-opening memory to them), but they need in your face stuff, because the oppressed have had it in their face for forever.
(Yep, they were forewarned, which speaks to their voyeurism,IMO.)
~Cindy
Heartened to see support for oppression against LGBTQ community.
ReplyDeleteHi Jaye. My piece got rejected, but I love this show! Thanks for sharing works here. As for the offended viewers, my experience is that traditional quilters TEND to be conservative, and art quilters TEND to be liberals. Of course, that's a big stereotypical generalization, but it is is more accurate than not. Our country is VERY divided, no matter WHAT Trump pulls! Putin is so happy about the rather fast death of America as we know it, happening before our eyes. Let us pray!
ReplyDeleteMuch love and big thanks, Susi
Susi...it is a fabulous show...and for all the negativity there were many who were very impressed with the show! Good to shake up the establishment in any was possible!!!!!
DeleteHi Jaye,
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing the ToR exhibit with your blog readers. It is a powerfully emotional exhibit, and believe me it very was hard for us to narrow it down to just 60 quilts for touring. For the most part the exhibit has been very appreciated, with a typical percentage of the audience expressing angry about it, correlating closely with the percentage of the country that supports this administration. The Arlington location has been the *loudest* outrage so far though, but it's not surprising since it is Texas after all, frankly I am amazed it didn't happen sooner.
As women it's crucial we keep fighting for our rights and the rights of so many others that are in jeopardy, the future of this country depends on it.
Thank you, Judy for your continued stance on what is happening! And yes, we MUST continue...we cannot let the Surge of the Woman's March weaken!!
DeleteMy piece, "Death of Science" in the controversial section? Must be the bloody dagger embedded in the back of one of the dead researchers. The concept isn't controversial. There is no doubt that Pruitt et al and the squatter in chief in the oval office are trying to send us back to the stone age. Life on earth is at stake
ReplyDeleteI totally agree....I am living an extremely conservative section of the USA! We are not giving up without a fight though...apathy is one of the biggest concerns so shows like Threads do shake things up a little!! And I too was wondering the decision of where yours was put!! Great art!!
DeleteThank you for your post, and your support.
ReplyDeleteART? There seems to be quite a controversy in what makes art art and what makes art pornographic and /or political.
DeleteForms of art have been used throughout history to propagate political views Merry Old England, Marie Antoinette’s France, and yes even Hitler used art to promote his regime.
I have been told all my life that true art is to be interpreted by the viewer. I disagree. I believe that art started out as a way to depict things the artist saw; it was pre photography. When I see a piece of “art work” that I do not understand I do not want to think about it. I want to know what the hell the “artist” was thinking when making the work.
It is easy for someone to call a piece art when it is about a subject they find near to their beliefs. Just as it is as easy for someone to call it trash or pornography when it disputes or desecrates their beliefs.
I have my own criteria for what constitutes true art. I believe it should be pleasant and appealing to the eyes, thought provoking , child friendly, and controversy is fine. I also judge it by “would I be alright superimposing some of my closest family members into the work of art”.
During the Victorian Era the showing of bare arms and legs was considered very risqué and even nude statues were frowned upon. I am glad I didn’t grow up in that era.
There have always been people who want to force their beliefs on others, and thanks to the 1st Amendment they have the right to do so. But it also gives us the right to refute such actions and display our own beliefs.
Back to the subject "Threads of Resistance". I don’t know if there is plagiarism in art but I thought I recognized “The Kiss” by Maryte Collard. I found it to be a direct copy of Dmitri Vrubel - The Kiss from 1990 https://www.widewalls.ch/political-art/the-kiss/ . There it was depicting a good thing maybe this was Maryte’s meaning also?
I also find it hard to believe that only in Texas did they hear any controversy. Alas again we hear or listen to what we want to.
ReplyDelete