Missed this back in April: “When will art institutions begin to pay respect to the legacies of our foremothers’ artistry? And when will we, as a culture, move beyond rigid hierarchies of value and celebrate domestic crafts in their own right?”
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the whole history of "well if it's at all practically useful it's not really art" is such bullshit and yet another reason that the "Western canon" of "what counts as art" isn't valid or helpful imho.
We have a wonderful variety of hand crocheted snowflake ornaments my paternal grandmother made that were passed down to me. There's even a tree topper angel as well.
She taught me to knit when I lived with them one summer, but we ran out of time for crochet lessons as well. I keep meaning to learn.
I'm having this weird flashback to an artist having a weird tantrum about how her obviously-inspired-by-folk-art paintings weren't folk art because she had an MFA and deserved to be taken seriously by Serious Art Institutions.
Been thinking a lot abt doilies lately — because now that dad lives alone in the house, I’m struck (and moved) by all the vestiges of mom, including the doilies on every end + side table, which serve decorative + utilitarian purposes: they’re coasters! they’re scratch buffers for lamps + doodads!
What you see a lot of these days are "crocheted mandalas" which are pretty much doilies under another name and with, let's face it, a touch of orientalism.
I love everything about this so much! that the doilies are beautiful and useful, that they hold the memory of your mom and she's present in your lives through them; that your dad not only kept them but also uses them still.
it's so so good - about the crafts made by the immigrants who came through the house - and the director / curator can give you a tour. you're always welcome to my guest suite. SCMS rejects, unite!
I was so happy that the museum where I work just hosted a quilt show and I’ve been pushing to have more textiles on display in our permanent galleries.
I started studying material culture and craft in the ‘80s because of these ridiculous, often sexist and racist biases—so disappointing that we’re still having to argue the case
Hear, hear! Quilts have been accepted as art; doilies are due their due. I have some of my great-aunts’ plus a whole bunch I made myself. I’ve been interested in them since the ‘70s.
This is good stuff. I heartily agree. My favourite story about the snobby art world is about the Gee Bend Quilters. The NY art critics couldn't believe these wonderful modern quilts had been made by black women in remote Alabama. Now they are feted for their skills.
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She taught me to knit when I lived with them one summer, but we ran out of time for crochet lessons as well. I keep meaning to learn.
Sigh.
I was so happy that the museum where I work just hosted a quilt show and I’ve been pushing to have more textiles on display in our permanent galleries.