Is it art or not?

[Eileen K.]

"I hate it when I want to say so many things, but I don't know if I should. This must be what it feels like when art is getting squashed out of you..."

C'mon Keith! Say what you want here. That's what the forums are for, right? To "voice" our opinions, whether others like it or not. I have a feeling that we'll all like what you say

As some of you may know, I've been giving myself a lot of angst for a year or more. It took Sue Garman's Ruffled Roses pattern hitting my brain like a ton of bricks for me to say "screw it" and to start enjoying quilting again. :idea: I'm in love with this quilt, I'm fascinated by Civil War era quilts-ie Dear Jane, and I'm exploring other applique projects.

Is it art? It sure is; at least as far as I'm concerned. I'm a quiltmaker, like Margo said. It's more than enough for us, right Margo?

[Margo C.]

I think that some people are true artists no matter what they call themselves, and that some people who label themselves as artists might be more concerned with the perception that the label gives them than they are with doing what makes their heart sing.

I am a quilt maker. It makes my heart sing and feeds my soul. If other people like what I do, that's nice too.

[Margo C.]

touche!! Margo

[Annis C.]

Eileen said I should join this discussion. I don't really think it matters whether it is considered art or not as long as you enjoy what you are doing. Some people are natural born artists and some take schooling to learn the trade. I guess I can call it a trade. I would have liked to take schooling too but the art teacher moved away before I was in the right grade. So you might say I'm a self taught artist. Whether I'm a true artist doesn't matter as I enjoy what I do and it is art to me. I also consider my older son an artist. He drew detailed pictures as a child and showed interest in my needlework. He learned to play the piano by note and by ear and composed his own music. He had an interest in leather work, taxidermy, and gardening. But his schooling was in the engineering field and that is what he does today. But I still consider him an artist in his field.

And as for finding my voice, I'm still working on that. I think it will be forever changing as I learn new techniques and move on to different things. And whether I want to work on my own designs or someone else's it will still be art to me.

[Annis C.]

There is an art to everything. As a nurse practitioner, I know all the rules, protocols, anatomy, physiology, drugs, etc. In other words, I know the science of medicine. But taking all those hard cold facts, and applying it to the care of a patient, and making that PERSON (not that disease) feel better... that is art!

Maggie in E. Central Illinois

[Teri L.]

Partly what comes to mind, for me, are those relational algebra problems where if Jane is this and Sally is that what is Mary. Part of the larger issue is going through the process of finding where we fit in the larger quilting world. There are moments when I have a quilterly identity crisis. I don't know if I'm a traditional quilter (no this doesn't quite fit), modern quilter (this is a good possibility), art quilter (no, not quite), contemporary quilter (potentially), quilter (absolutely).

Any quilter who chooses to continue to improve their skill as a quilter from cutting & piecing to quilting & binding is clearly working toward being an artist. I think Leni makes some great points although I don't agree with her comment about children - children need to be encouraged and have their intention toward art encouraged and even directed if possible.

I think part of the problem in the quilting world has ended up with clearly defined factions that have developed some tension between these factions and in my opinion this is where the biggest issue lies. Often what happens is that we as quilters develop a deep sense of inferiority and quite frankly jealousy of other quilters because our work seems as though it's not as good as the work of someone else. When I teach machine quilting I say again and again and again that the biggest difference between these new quilters and myself is that they're learning a new technique that I've had the opportunity to practice.

This sense of inferiority and jealousy get me very sad because often what happens is a quilter who has some talent will not do a whole lot to develop their own talent because these feelings get in the way. I've experienced these feelings of inferiority and jealousy and it has taken a lot of work and effort on my part to grow and develop as a quilter. I'm still working on finding my voice. By letting go of the feelings of inferiority and jealousy I find that a deeper appreciation of the hard work and effort that goes into quilt making has developed and I can see and appreciate the growth in my own work and encourage the growth and development of other quilters.

Interestingly enough in the April issue of The Quilt Life I cover this very topic of finding our quilterly voice for "Be Our Guest". I can't quite believe I'm going to do this however, I'm going to quote myself here: When you find a technique that "works for you, practice often. The only way to make it yours is to spend time playing with it, making it reflect who you are as a quilter. If it starts to make your heart sing, pursue it with reckless abandon! You'll continue to grow, acquire skill and find life.

Find your voice as a quilter by pursuing what you love. Don't worry so much about being an artist, concentrate on developing skill and making the quilts you love to make no matter what avenue of quilting that is!!!

Teri

[Keith D.]

What great comments! And I love it that Pearl (Maggie) knows she is an artist because when her care makes people feel better!

I'm still reacting strongly to this thread and I don't think I understand it - neither my strong reaction, nor art.

I tend to be a populist (except I love high church). I should have realized right from the start that Wiener was talking about elite art - and that has its place. But in our house, we mostly have accessible art. Art that's of the people, by the people, and for the people. We have art from children and I think we even have a print from Ruby. Maybe that's why I reacted strongly and am still reacting strongly.

Every time we choose fabrics to put together to make a quilt, whether we follow a pattern or not, we make art. Every time we put a little of our own personal flair into a quilting pattern we are creating art. I agree with Weiner's lunch partner. Art is the result of creativity.

So if you do something creatively and someone else tells you you're not an artist - you can always come sit by me. Especially if you don't have anything nice to say. (I just loved Steel Magnolias - I have to watch that again.)

But then I think anything worth doing is worth doing well... Auuugh! I'm doing it to myself again! I'm going to stop and go make art today!

[Karen M.]

I think that some people are true artists no matter what they call themselves, and that some people who label themselves as artists might be more concerned with the perception that the label gives them than they are with doing what makes their heart sing.

I am a quilt maker. It makes my heart sing and feeds my soul. If other people like what I do, that's nice too.

Bravo Margo...I am with you all the way with your statement. I tend to do what people label "artsy" quilts because they seem to feed my soul and make my heart sing more than what is considered "traditional" quilts. I stand by it and honor my own feelings in this too! If someone happens to like what I do then I am happy about that also.

[Hannelore N.]

I don't mind what definition anybody uses for 'art' or 'traditional', as long as nobody tries to stuff me into one of those restrictive drawers. I find that most quilts have artistic and/or traditional elements in them, and I personally very happily have a foot in each camp, trying not to fall over.

[Betty J.]

I don't mind what definition anybody uses for 'art' or 'traditional', as long as nobody tries to stuff me into one of those restrictive drawers. I find that most quilts have artistic and/or traditional elements in them, and I personally very happily have a foot in each camp, trying not to fall over.

I'm right there with you Lorchen! You expressed it so well, and made me laugh at the same time. :lol: Very artistic reply. :lol:

[brenda h.]

My SIL is a recognized, licensed water color artist. If you have seen the "Poultry in Mothion" figurines, Sharon's watercolors are the basis for them. I have made a couple of small quilts based on her water colors and she has used them in her booth at licensing shows. I have a blast with this process since there are no rules and I get to do what feels right and what looks good to me. I believe this makes me an artist as well, maybe not as well known, but an artist just the same.
Brenda from Houston

[brenda h.]

Ok, I've been following this thread without actually reading the original article by Leni. So I finally just read it and have a few thoughts. First of all, she seems to confuse "art" with "famous art", thinking that all art can only come from famous artists. She seems to think that you must be able to recognize an artist's art hanging in a gallery without reading the artist's name written on it. Now, I can pick a Libby Lehman or a Ricky Tims out of a line-up, so I guess that's partly true - to be a 'famous' artist, maybe people DO need to be able to recognize your particular style of 'art'. I realized long ago that I don't DO one particular style of quilting and therefore will never be famous (which is ok with me), but I still think I do 'art' and I'm still an 'artist'. Not just in quilting, in life in general.
She also says, "artistic development happens in a straight line" - well, here, I think maybe she confuses 'artistic development' with 'perfection'. Perfection has its place in art, I guess, but it's not EVERYthing. I personally think that sometimes 'art' has absolutely nothing to do with perfection - and, in my case, actually had to do with learning to let go of perfection. So if you want to perfect a technique or style - great! But don't claim that all artists everywhere have to follow your straight line to your end goal of your perfection. Just sayin'.
I do agree with her that art requires some form of 'intention' - I never understood the animal art - what's up with that? :roll: I definitely do NOT agree with her about children. I believe kids do have the intent to make art. And they are the most natural of all artists - encourage them whenever you get the chance. I ask my kids' opinions all the time in quilting, just to let them know their artistic opinions matter around here.
I also do NOT agree with her that to be an 'artist' requires some form of 'recognition'. I think most of the people on TQS are artists, whether you think so or not, whether you ever get a ribbon or not, whether you hang in a gallery or not.
So that's my two cents worth. I'm an artist and a quilter and a poet. Will probably never be a famous artist or quilter or poet, according to Leni's standards, because I'm too open to too many fun possibilities of new things to try...
-Tina

[Margo C.]

Well said, Tina!

[Kathryn S.]

Like Tina, I had been following this thread and just went back to read the blog post. I call myself an artist, although my day job is far from anything creative. I work in both traditional and art quilt directions, trying to be open to whatever is calling me and to whatever it is that I'm supposed to learn. Fame or riches is definitely not on the agenda! I agree with everyone here, who are saying that creativity comes from the heart. We all express ourselves differently, and it is so wonderful to see our creations and read what we say about them.

In Nancy Crow's book about her quilts, she says that someone told her in order to be an artist that she had to go deeper, not broader. That works for her, certainly. For me the zigzag path is more interesting and joyful. Maybe someday I will find a recognizable style (I mean, other than tending toward bright colors ). But thankfully it's not necessary for me to earn my living by quilting so I can please myself. And I celebrate the art I see every day here.

Kathy

[Keith D.]

Yea! Tina and Yea! Kathy! "famous art" is what I meant by elite art - but Tina said it much better. And like Kathy, I like a zigzag path.

About elephants though: they communicate over long distances; they creatively solve problems; they mourn the passing of their family and friends... I wonder if they might know what they're painting.