I am working on a new project for the Textures Fiber Arts show in October. Gail, one of my art quilt friends, stopped by to see it. She liked it but said that the "quilt police" may have issues with it. At first I just accepted the remark because I know she is probably correct. The quilt police will have issues with it because it is not three layers to all four edges. But it is three layers over most of the surfaces.
If you are not familiar with the "quilt police" they are those ladies that approach each new quilt form with the intention of finding at least one reason the work is not a "real" or "acceptable" piece. There are many reasons a work will be unacceptable to the police. In the past, anything that was machine quilted was not a "real" quilt. Seams wonky? Not acceptable. Corners or points cut off? Not acceptable. Painted fabric? Does not have three layers? Not acceptable. Even if the piece is not designed to be a quilt, you will hear them clicking their tongues, shaking their heads and proclaiming their decrees.
After Gail left, I realized in the past I might have cared, but I no longer do. I have gone past making "acceptable quilts" and moved into the fiber art genre. I give myself personal permission to create a piece of art in the manner that best expresses what I want to give to the viewer. It may be painted, less than three layers, quilted to death or not quilted at all. It will be my design and my vision.
Are you still listening to the quilt police? Should you be?
If you are not familiar with the "quilt police" they are those ladies that approach each new quilt form with the intention of finding at least one reason the work is not a "real" or "acceptable" piece. There are many reasons a work will be unacceptable to the police. In the past, anything that was machine quilted was not a "real" quilt. Seams wonky? Not acceptable. Corners or points cut off? Not acceptable. Painted fabric? Does not have three layers? Not acceptable. Even if the piece is not designed to be a quilt, you will hear them clicking their tongues, shaking their heads and proclaiming their decrees.
After Gail left, I realized in the past I might have cared, but I no longer do. I have gone past making "acceptable quilts" and moved into the fiber art genre. I give myself personal permission to create a piece of art in the manner that best expresses what I want to give to the viewer. It may be painted, less than three layers, quilted to death or not quilted at all. It will be my design and my vision.
Are you still listening to the quilt police? Should you be?
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