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| Quilter's Tile - Flower, I Felt 8" x 8" ©2012 Sharon V. Rotz |
Sharon, here.
All week long I've had second thoughts about continuing my quilted tiles. It seems even after all these years, my mom's comments still hit me. As I was showing my niece some of the tiles I had done, my mom asked "Why are you taking the time to make all of these? What are they, potholders?"
Can you really justify yourself to your mother without feelings of guilt?
Why am I making these? It did make me stop and think.
I see them as little pieces of art. And why do we make art? Today my answer is ...........To release our creativity by having fun, showing our spirit, and exploring new ideas.
Sorry, mom, potholders or not, there will be another quilted tile.
(Details about making "Flower, I Felt" can be seen on my blog.)
The BIG question is "Why Do We Make Art?" (Or should we spend our time doing other things?)
What are your thoughts?
7 comments:
Oh dear the mother-daughter thing; or husband-wife for that matter, or friend-friend. It's quite frustrating at times when others do not understand our desire and need to create. When I first started making art quilts a friend said "When will you stop making these? How many quilts does one person need?" That was in 2007. I continue to make them. Lately I have added drawing and painting to my creative outlets and was talking yesterday to a young man who works part time in the resturant where I eat AND DRAW often. He's an artist too. And he said: "I draw everywhere I go, I always have my sketch book with me." I feel compelled to do this too now. Is it an obsession? It used to be photography. And I still take hundreds of photos. But now it seems I need to put what I see down on paper. So to all those who do NOT understand, it is just something inside of me that needs to come out. And where you see it as a "pot holder" or a waste of time; to me it is LIFE being lived to the fullest!!! So there! ;-)
Oh boy,did you open a can of worms! I agree to the above whole heartedly!
Without passion in life - there is no life and my passion is creating things. that creative outlet just happens to be art quilts. How about when people call a quilt a blanket or a rug - I don't make the full size ones anymore but those that do put so much love and quality into it - it just kills me to hear people not appreciate them. I think that's why I have reached out online to the quilting and art community on blogs and twitter, just to be able to associate with other like minded people. In my real life I don't know that many that really appreciate art.
I for one enjoy your art every week and although it looks to me like not many people look at this blog - (I haven't seen many comments or posts)as long as I have the time, I will continue to post my work and enjoy yours. That flower looks like fun by the way - I have down some felting with yarns and it is addicting.
Well said ladies. Great thought provoking questions Sharon. Thanks for starting this conversation.
I entered my first art quilt in a local show back in 2007. One of our guild members was really upset with my piece because it "wasn't a quilt". It was a quilt and in fact it was heavily quilted. It was just wasn't a traditional pattern. I respect traditional quilting work. It is just not a style I choose to work in anymore.
One of my goals in creating this blog was to bring quilt artists together to support each other. I live in a rural area. I can't get out to meet with many of the Wisconsin art quilters on a regular basis because it is too far to travel.
I have been creating all my life, mostly with fabrics and fibers. I put that creativity aside for a while when I was raising my son. When he was nine I felt a need to start creating again. Once that door was open I was compelled to create by a force deep inside me. As I feed that force it grows stronger and stronger (yeah it is kind of scary, but a good kind of scary).
My creative side helps balance out my day job where I use the left side of my brain. If I don't make time to create I get very unsettled.
I once had dinner with Jane Townswick who creates superb applique work. I complemented her quilts and color sense. She responded that her creations were gifts from God and it would be a dishonor not to share his gifts. I really liked that idea.
Please do keep creating and keep teaching what you know. Your work inspire me to keep experimenting and try new things.
I have to agree with everyone. I have always been creative and always involved in some sort of creative activity. It was fiber related when I was young. While I was raising my children and working full time, it was there in the background - for fun when I had time. Now that I am seemingly retired (new concept I am just exploring), creating with fiber is a daily part of my life. The thing is, in acknowledging and giving more time to my creative side, I see life differently. I notice more. What a gift!
I would say Sharon that as long as your tiles give you joy, make them. Your piece today is quite beautiful and I smiled when I saw it. So, you are giving joy to others too.
Have a great 2012.
Judy
My mother once looked at a crocheted flower headband I'd made and asked "what is that THING on it? It looks like a fungus!"
My, my, we have our days, don't we? I had to laugh at Itsbugart's comment about the fungus.
Thank you all so much for your inspiring words. I think this is why we love our blogger friends who keep us creating.
When I think more about my mother's comment, it is actually quite funny from a person who embroiders, crochets, does latch hooking, quilling, candle-wicking, counted cross-stitch, etc., etc. and even picks up a paint brush now and then. Gee, I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I better lighten up (and watch the remarks I make to my creative daughter.)
I want to respond to Chris' comment about her first show in 2007. That is the year I learned to make a quilt and started making art quilts soon after. I entered mine in the local art gallery and although this community is new to accepting art quilts or even understanding them AS ART I have won ribbons in the shows there. (and some money too!) But there are still many who do not consider art quilts FINE ART as they do paintings or even photography. So it feels like a battle sometimes; and it takes guts to enter time and again. It's always a thrill to over hear someone looking at a piece and exclaiming in a favorable way about it when it's mixed in with all the other FINE ART in a show! ;-) I say keep putting your art out there as we are educating the community by introducing them to this art form.
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