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Lesson Plans


Re: MEANING

[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]
menichino (menichino)
Mon, 8 Feb 1999 18:01:38 -0500

Hi Kim --
I agree with you about quilting -- it such a comforting thing to make. I
always felt inadequate somehow, as an art teacher, that I didn't create
fine art in my spare time. But I'd usually be sitting at my sewing machine
making quilts. I finally realized -- Fiber art! I could hang a handle on
it and feel totally justified as an artist because, yes, all the elements
of design are being considered. And I end up with useful things (like the
quilt I made for the floor of the art room when I need to gather the little
ones around and the bare floor is so cold!) Subscribing to ArtQuilt
magazine made me feel even more like a true artist, as I identified with
the amazingly creative people showcased in each issue. Perhaps meaning
should be interlaced with function.
Liz in rural NY

----------
> From: MzVogo
> To: artsednet.edu
> Subject: Re: MEANING
> Date: Sunday, February 07, 1999 10:06 PM
>
> I am a bit out of the loop here, since I havent' read my mail in a week
and
> frankly just deleted most of it in order to get "caught up" however I
noticed
> with interest Brenda's comments about the quilts.
>
> Being a long time quilter, I consider myself a "functional" quilter -
meaning
> I make quilts to be drug around by small children, nestled in on rainy &
snowy
> days with a good book, and snuggled under on a cold winter night. It
doesn't
> hurt if they are also taken to college, used for picnics and otherwise
loved
> to death.
>
> There is another side of me, however, that yearns to be an "artistic"
quilter.
> I spend many hours pouring over my quilt magazines and visiting quilt
shows
> admiring the various wall quilts that involve various techniques. I tell
> myself that this is the "next" level - and indeed, many famous quilters
began
> by making a simple 9 patch as their first effort.
>
> It is important to know that whether they are "traditional" or "artistic"
> quilts have meaning. Each block in a traditional quilt carries a history
with
> it from it's designer. Even the simplest postage stamp quilts (made from
> 100's of tiny 1" squares) are often developed using all the art elements
much
> like abstract art.
>
> Perhaps there is no "art" without meaning - since it comes from the heart
of
> the creator, there must always be meaning no matter how personal.
>
> kim (a quilter)