What makes you an artist?

I think the question of whether a quilter is an artist has been circulating for a very long time.  There is a class of quilts called art quilts (defined as an original exploration of a concept or idea rather than the handing down of a “pattern.” It experiments with textile manipulation, color, texture and/or a diversity of mixed media. An Art Quilt often pushes quilt world boundaries."  But if you don't make art quilts, are you an artist?  I never thought I was, but I'm beginning to question that.

To further confuse issues, Modern Quilters believe they are pushing quilt world boundaries, but often argue vehemently that though they are artists, but don't make "art quilts."  They often call the quilts they make their "work," like any artist calls the things they make their "work."  If you google modern quilting you can see all the controversy associated with that movement; you'll see a ton over the year.  Here's my favorite: http://leniwiener.com/2013/06/the-modern-quilt-movement-and-controversy/ But ..... that doesn't answer the question of whether or not quilters are artists.

When you look up the definition for artist.  The text above is what you get.  And according to the third definition, "a person skilled at a particular task or occupation," a quilter can definitely be considered an artist.  And it doesn't seem to matter what "type" of quilts they make: art quilts, modern quilts, traditional quilts, foundation paper pieced quilts, English paper pieced quilts, or portrait quilts.  But it does seem to matter about the quilters skill.   Perhaps the level of skill is another reason I never saw myself as an artist.  Huffington Post had a great article about defining artists: , but it was published more than 5 years ago.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-grant/how-do-you-define-artist_b_582329.html

There is something in that article that spoke to me. "Artists are people who call themselves artists."  And that may be all that is needed. I never thought of myself as an artist before, I never called myself an artist.  Why is that?  Because 1) I didn't think I was creative enough; 2) I didn't think I was good enough: and 3) I didn't create art quilts.  But since I have begun modifying and most lately designing quilts and quilt blocks; since I do feel like I am a master at some quilting techniques, or at least good enough to teach others; and since I recently learned how to make a fabric self portrait, I now feel like an artist and I am comfortable calling myself artist.  And maybe that's all that is needed.  If you think you're an artist you are. 

What do you think? Which of these are art?

https://www.themodernquiltguild.com/gallery
http://www.soulsgrowndeep.org/gees-bend-quiltmakers
http://texasquiltmuseum.org/exhibits-at-txqm.html
https://www.saqa.com/

http://www.textileartist.org/quilt-creators-5-contemporary-quilt-artists/

In my opinion, it just doesn't matter.  Anyone who makes anything due to a feeling inside them, I consider an artist.  So whether you're following a pattern, improvising as you go, sewing traditional triangles, squares and rectangles together, or experimenting with mixed media --- if sewing and quilting is the way you get your feelings out (good, bad or ugly feelings), then I think you're an artist.  And I encourage everyone to let their inner artists out.  Be brave.  Try something new.  A new color pallet, a new technique, a new pattern or a totally new expression of yourself through a quilt.  Think you're an artist and you'll be an artist!

Hump Day is for Curves

Do you do sew circles or curves?  I have to admit, used to be afraid of them.  I've used the Quick Curve Ruler to make patterns with curves, but they're not a true drunkards path. I have a die for my Sizzix for the drunkard's path and I think it's time I tried it.  I did some research first on the block itself and how to make it modern.  Read below some of what I learned (cut and pasted from the sites listed).  You can google Modern Drunkard's Path and see plenty of pictures to motivate you.

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/drunkards-path-quilt/

I really liked this one from http://sotosewn.blogspot.com/2011/12/monday-path-of-modern-drunkard.html  I'm a fan of solids and symmetrical designs.  But there are so many options with this simple block . . . . if you're willing to try those curves.  So challenge yourself.

Drunkard's Path (The National Park Service website)

It is easy to imagine the origin of this name. The meandering diagonals resemble a drunkard's staggering walk. Sewing for a cause is an old tradition. Women made quilts to raise money and consciousness, both to promote the abolition of slavery and to promote women's rights. Women across the country were also involved in the Temperance Movement. By 1907, The Women's Christian Temperance Union had 350,000 members. Prohibited from voting, the Drunkard's Path was a popular way for a woman to express her opinion on alcohol and its use. It appears that more quilts were made for this cause than for any other.Although other colors were used, blue and white became the Temperance Union colors: white for purity and blue for water, the purest beverage available.

Drunkard’s Path (Fons and Porter’s website)

Just like the Log Cabin design, the Drunkard’s Path design can be traced all the way back to ancient Egypt. Archaeologists have unearthed this design on ancient Roman artifacts, as well. Quilters started using this design later in the 19th century and its origin in the quilting world is quite exciting. Once in the new colonies, several different names were used to describe the block’s new and different arrangements. Rocky Road to Kansas, Oregon Trail…and Wanderer in the Wilderness were just a few of the early aliases. Later on, Amish quilters added names such as Solomon’s Puzzle…and Endless Trail to the growing list of block names. Today, all of these names are used, but the most popular is still Drunkard’s Path.


Traditional to Modern: Drunkard’s Path (Albuquerque Modern Quilt Guild)
The history of the drunkard’s path block is both steeped in romanticism and history. Some theorized that the zig zag pattern of the blocks contained secret codes designed to aid slaves escaping through the Underground Railroad. However, some have found this notion unreasonable as slaves would have traveled at night and would have been unable to see quilting patterns in the pitch black of  night (1). Others assert that the history of the drunkards path lies mainly in the Women’s Temperance Movement.  Women sewed these quilts to promote the abolition of alcohol. The drunkard’s path was meant to symbolize a drunk’s staggering walk. Often, these quilts were sewn in blue and white, white representing purity and blue representing water, the purest of all beverages (2). This notion may be fanciful as well, “As a writer* in an 1898 issue of The Modern Priscilla stated, ‘Color harmony is the key-note to success [in patchwork], and simplicity the next most important consideration. . . . All things considered, pretty indigo blue and white print and white muslin combine beauty with the coveted old-time air more effectively than any style of cotton patchwork.'” Katherine B. Johnson, The Modern Priscilla (May 1898).” Today’s modern interpretation of the drunkard’s path hardly resembles quilts of the past. Modern Quilters make clever use of negative space and very nontraditional block layout. Often, the quilting (or stitching) on these modern quilts helps convey a story as much as the piecing. Although these quilts lack historical romanticism, they do not lack the rich stories of their makers.

Here’s some links to blogs and videos about sewing curves and using drunkard’s path blocks in modern quilts.  Check them out.  And if you know of others that you prefer (there are plenty out there), please add them in the comments.

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2011/06/running-in-circles-tutorial.html

http://sewnomadic.blogspot.com/2013/02/semi-simple-drunkards-path.html

http://kateconklindesigns.blogspot.com/2012/08/piecing-curves-without-pins-video.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTOGt4cRdJE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwuv4oYXOqY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vULfFqqM3Uc