“Threads of Resistance” is an exhibition of fiber art, art, modern and traditional quilts designed to protest the Trump administration’s actions and policies. Below is our statement about the exhibition and why we came together to organize it.
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." -Martin Luther King, Jr.
We as the Artist’s Circle stand for unity and love and light. We believe we have a duty as citizens of this country to shine light into dark places. We feel we must stand to preserve the good in America and speak against oppression and corruption, hatred and lies.
Art has always expressed both the hope and fear of its time. As artists speaking through our quilts, we come from a long tradition of political activism. The first known fundraising quilt supported the abolition of slavery. Quilts through the past two centuries have spoken to many causes, including the Temperance movement, women’s suffrage, nuclear proliferation, and AIDS awareness.
Just as quilts are traditional symbols of comfort and healing, our art can help us unite as Americans. Our quilts let the fearful know they are not alone and isolated in their struggles. Our quilts can inspire us to be greater and braver than we think we are. Our art speaks for those who are oppressed and have no voice.
Through much of history, quilts were one of the only acceptable means of expression for women whose political voices were silenced. Sometimes art must shock us out of our comfort zone and into action. In this venue, these quilts are also giving voice to emotions and ideas that for too long have been deemed unacceptable if spoken by women. Here, as women and men united, we speak together.
Because of our love for our country, silence is no longer an option.
Americans are feeling a mixture of hope and anger, love and fear. We take issue with the divisive actions of the Trump administration. Our art explores our emotional responses to these actions, in the hope that it will encourage civilized, constructive conversation and, ultimately, better understanding of one another's viewpoints.
“Ye cannot live for yourselves; a thousand fibers connect you with your fellow-men, and along those fibers, as along sympathetic threads, run your actions as causes, and return to you as effects.”
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." -Martin Luther King, Jr.
We as the Artist’s Circle stand for unity and love and light. We believe we have a duty as citizens of this country to shine light into dark places. We feel we must stand to preserve the good in America and speak against oppression and corruption, hatred and lies.
History is a written record of human behavior.
Art is a record of human emotion.
Quilts are art.
Art is a record of human emotion.
Quilts are art.
Art has always expressed both the hope and fear of its time. As artists speaking through our quilts, we come from a long tradition of political activism. The first known fundraising quilt supported the abolition of slavery. Quilts through the past two centuries have spoken to many causes, including the Temperance movement, women’s suffrage, nuclear proliferation, and AIDS awareness.
Just as quilts are traditional symbols of comfort and healing, our art can help us unite as Americans. Our quilts let the fearful know they are not alone and isolated in their struggles. Our quilts can inspire us to be greater and braver than we think we are. Our art speaks for those who are oppressed and have no voice.
Through much of history, quilts were one of the only acceptable means of expression for women whose political voices were silenced. Sometimes art must shock us out of our comfort zone and into action. In this venue, these quilts are also giving voice to emotions and ideas that for too long have been deemed unacceptable if spoken by women. Here, as women and men united, we speak together.
Because of our love for our country, silence is no longer an option.
Americans are feeling a mixture of hope and anger, love and fear. We take issue with the divisive actions of the Trump administration. Our art explores our emotional responses to these actions, in the hope that it will encourage civilized, constructive conversation and, ultimately, better understanding of one another's viewpoints.
“Ye cannot live for yourselves; a thousand fibers connect you with your fellow-men, and along those fibers, as along sympathetic threads, run your actions as causes, and return to you as effects.”
Rev. Henry Melvill, written in 1853
The Artist Circle
Sue Bleiweiss
Susan Brubaker Knapp
Judy Coates-Perez
Jane Dunnewold
Victoria Findlay Wolfe
Jamie Fingal
Lyric Montgomery Kinard
Melanie Testa
Leslie Tucker Jenison
Kathy York
I understand and agree about a juried exhibition, however, has any thought been given to the possibility that thousand of art entries will go unused and possibly unseen. I propose we "art bomb" an appropriate location with every resistance piece created. Mar-a-Lago comes to mind.
ReplyDeleteYes, Nancy, we have plans to use the blog/website to feature the pieces that don't make it into the exhibition. We think there will be some amazing work that simply won't be able to be included due to the space restrictions at the venues.
DeleteI hope you will all let submitters (whether accepted or not) know about the online gallery at www.Unitedwequilt.com. We welcome all the works and then some, such as small masterpieces, wearables, and sculpture that didn't fit your needs.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Information about United We Quilt is included in a tab on our blog.
DeleteAre art quilts that defend president Trump included in the juried exhibits? I hope so.
ReplyDeleteFair and Balanced artist
Carol, this exhibition is a protest against Trump's actions and policies that these artists find objectionable. This was stated in the Call for Entries.
DeleteAny photos or reviews of the opening event that you could post? Visited the exhibit earlier in the week. Liked the location and the care that went into making the exhibit available for the public! Thanks for all the hard work.
ReplyDeleteIs there any possibility for a second call for entries at some point in the future as we continue to process and respond to the unfolding of this presidency and its effects?
ReplyDeleteWe've discussed the possibility of a second show, but have no definite plans right now. Whether not there's a place to exhibit, we certainly encourage everyone to make art to express their feelings; it's an important way to speak out and share opinions, and to process emotions and ideas.
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