MARCH ISSUE OF QUILTER’S HOME WILL NOT BE SOLD AT JO-ANN FABRIC AND CRAFTS

 

Here’s the scoop. I’m very sad to report that Jo-Ann Fabric and
Crafts has made the decision not to carry the March issue of Mark
Lipinski’s Quilter’s Home magazine due to an article on “Shocking
Quilts and Controversial Patchwork: How Far is too Far?”  an article by Jake Finch which explores the ongoing debate as to whether art quilts have a place in
quilt shows, and if so, who makes the choice as to what is
appropriate or not. Of course, you must see the irony in this.

The quilts involved are:

The L Word by Diane Johns
God of OUr Silent Tears I by Gwendolyn Magee
Southern Heritage/Southern Shame by Gwendolyn Magee
I Remain by Randall Cook
Uncertainty by Galye McKay
Jesus Get Your Gun by Shawn Quinlin
Helping Hand by Mary Beth Bellah

In the article are photos of 7 art quilts that have either caused
controversy, raised an eyebrow, or have been banned in art exhibits
and/or quilt shows at one time or another (most, if not all, of these
quilts have been hung in public shows without incident at some
point) — and they range from political, social, religious, and
sexual (heterosexual and homosexual)issues. Nothing could be rated
more than PG-13, if that. That said, to be sure that all appropriate
precautions were taken; I had the magazine that are sold on the
newsstand wrapped in a clear plastic bag so to protect anyone who
might find it objectionable (which, of course, is the point of the
article).

However, the issue has been still been banned, which I find
personally upsetting because I think it’s a good article, but also
upsetting as part of the press being censored, art being censored,
and as a quilter who is one who doesn’t believe that a quilt is only
for use on a bed, that women/quilters can make their own decisions
about what they’d like to read/see, and more, that it pains me that
the industry at large is still so seemingly out of touch with who the
2009 woman/man/quilter is, as we continue to fight the stereotype
that we are all not little old boring subservient church ladies .

I’m really upset over it. This is a valid topic for a quilting
magazine and to me; it feels like someone painting the clothes over
Michelangelo’s paintings (which had been done).

Oh well, that’s the news. Please, support the magazine this month.
If you normally buy QH at Jo-Ann please know that you can find this
issue at Sam’s Club, instead. Also, don’t forget to buy it from
eQuilter.com and other online shops and TOTALLY your local quilt
shops! You can also find it at Barnes & Noble and Borders, etc.

Thanks! I’m sorry about all of this,and am really crushed and
confused, but please pass the information around so other quilters
know where they can find this issue.

I hope you’ll be able to find the next issue at Jo-Ann’s as normal.  By the way, I love shopping at my local Jo-Ann Fabrics in Ledgewood, NJ   

xoxom

P.S.   Just for the record, Jo-Ann has simply decided not to carry this ONE issue.
It’s disappointing but, as others have mentioned and I believe, they
have every right not to sell anything they do not feel comfortable
with. I take both their concerns, and that of art quilters very
seriously. I can see both sides, that’s why I put it in a plastic bag.

This is not a First Ammendmendment violation from where I stand, nobody
said I couldn’t publish the article.

The bigger issue here is quilts and their form of expression. The
points have been made in this issue of Quilter’s Home and it has, at
the very least kept, the debate on the table and out in the open. So,
on many levels, this thing with Jo-Ann’s has been a good thing for
quilting.

By the way, I love my Jo-Ann staff at the Ledgewood Mall in NJ. Any
kind of boycott of this company is ridiculous.

This was just an FYI as to where you could find a copy if Jo-Ann was
the place you bought it.

Yes I’m sad and hurt by their decision, but again, my job for this
particular title is to raise quilting awareness and to break the stereotype.

xoxom