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| Why I got involved in planning this show - which is open to all quilters and fiber artists. The website is here. Deadline is May 1st. I have to admit that I have never been a political person. I was raised in a staunch republican family. We even had one of those Richard Nixon posters - now more than ever! on all wall in our house. I changed parties because I wanted to fight for women's rights. My body, my choice and voted for Barbara Boxer. You see I believe that ever woman should be in charge of their own bodies. Government has no say about my body or anyone else's for that matter. I support Planned Parenthood and all that they provide to women. Abortions are a small part of what they do. Don't like abortion? Don't have one. I am a believer in God and the teachings of Jesus. He was a dark skinned middle eastern Jewish man. And He was friends with everyone, no matter their color, origin, station, period. He was kind, loving, compassionate, caring, gracious, generous and grateful. This is who I follow. I consider myself to be spiritual, and not religious. Before the election and after, I have become even more aware of what is happening around me. I have educated myself in ways that I didn't think were possible. I am a sponge who wants to read everything about the men in power of our amazing country. All of my 'free reads' on Facebook with the news media have expired. I finally broke down and subscribed to the New York Times. I am just devastated where we are right now. There is so much hate, violence and a great division between people who follow 45 without question, and the rest of us who have a million questions as to why this is happening. Make American Fear Again is what is being sold to us right now. |
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| What better way to express my feelings and passions, than through my art. I did not participate in the march, for physical reasons, but I may take the risk of my health to walk in whatever march comes next. This is too important to pass up, in my humble opinion. My sketchbooks have always expressed my deepest emotions. That is no secret. I am thankful that I can draw to show how I am feeling. Our current administration's plan is to take out country down to the studs, and frankly take away many things that I hold dear. The women's right to choose, equality, public education, clean water, clean air, our constitutional rights, LGBT, medical care, pre-existing conditions, medicare and social security. We the People have a voice! |
Jamie,
ReplyDeletethanks so much for sharing your perspective! May we all be stronger together and work towards saving the rights of ALL people and above all our democracy. <3
Thank you so much Judy!
DeleteIt is such a frightening time. I subscribed to New York Times too and The Wall Street Journal to get a little broader perspective. I am not sure I will do something for the show but I will totally be heart and hand in the resistance!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your support! Onward and upward.
DeleteThanks so much for this!
ReplyDeleteIf I may suggest (on the problem with marching), see if you can stand along the route of the next march. When I was marching there were a lot of supporters standing along the route cheering us on. I felt they were a big part of the march too. My daughter has anxiety issues - especially about being in crowds. She did march in Jan. but if/when we go to a bigger one that's an option we will explore for her!
Thank you for the idea. I may have to find my cane for the next march. I am not going to miss out!
DeleteThere is so much Fake News, so much tabloid news. I am old enough to see past presidents that I did not support, but found confidence in our American system that have continued to carry with me. I'll confess I didn't like either candidate, but my confidence in our American system stands strong. I'd rather see energy spent volunteering, working on issues than fighting. Thus I can not, will not support a resistance effort, even though I fully support artists rights to express their feelings. To clarify, I do feel I also have a right to express mine and while I try to stay out of politics, your resistance exhibit just inspires me to voice my opinion. My heart is broken that such talented people want to spend energies on resistance vs working with others to improve things.
ReplyDeletethat's the beauty of living in a democracy; we all get to voice our opinions and make our own choices. I choose to fight for the rights of women to control the rights to make their own decisions about their bodies and to fight for regulations that give us all clean air to breath and water to drink. Just like the women who came before me to fight for my right to vote. I think you're making an assumption that the people involved in the exhibit are not doing anything else to make a difference in the world when in fact many of us contribute monetarily to non profits, volunteer with organizations helping disadvantaged African-American and Hispanic youth as well as organizations that help keep our environments clean - and yes, we make art to express our views on the economic, social and ecological concerns that we have. My confidence in the American system stands strong as well because I see people all over the country standing up for what they believe in rather than standing on the sidelines waiting for someone else to take action to insure that the air stays clean, the water stays drinkable, the birds and animals have a place to thrive and that every woman has access to the health care and the right to make decisions about her body without the permission of anyone else.
DeleteThis show is not the only thing I am doing to fight for what I believe in. I am writing cards, keeping in touch with my government officials, making phone calls. Having this exhibit is a way for others, like me, to express themselves through their art. Thank you for your comment.
DeleteQuilt Shop gal - my sentiments exactly. I am right there with you on this. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou have the right to your own opinion. Thank you for your comment.
DeleteTo Jamie, yes many follow 45 without question just like many follow NYT, CNN, etc without question. And then there are those of us who look at the bigger picture. And assuming the worst when we have a good system of checks and balances doesn't serve a purpose, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteNever thought I would join this conversation but here I am. If we hade a good system of checks and balances currently in place we would not need this conversation. Those of us who are expressing our views are not "fighting", we are doing what this democracy affords the right to do....express our opinions and work hard to protect hard won rights.
DeleteI am choosing to open my eyes and ears to all of the possibilities. I question everything. I am fighting for all of the things that I hold dear with phone calls, letter writing and speaking my mind. This exhibit gives me and others a voice in the resistance to make quilts and have their voices be heard.
DeleteIt is very important to read and listen to a variety of media before forming an opinion perhaps based on one vision. Nowhere have I seen or heard that the list of items being removed really exists.
ReplyDeletePropaganda exists everywhere and must be recognized by everyone. I see very little of this discrimination.
Thank you for your comment Ellie!
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ReplyDeleteJaime, Thank you.
ReplyDeleteJamie, thank you for this! We live on opposite coasts, I in the South, and what I'm seeing daily frightens me. Resistance is not a dirty word. It can take so many forms and our country was founded as a result! But mutual respect absolutely must be present. That's what is missing today.
ReplyDeleteQuiltShopGal: that you have watched what has been happening around you for the last months and didn't feel compelled to say anything until some quilters decided to get together really says it all, doesn't it? Your assumption is that resistance and working with others to improve things are mutually exclusive. They are not. Sitting on your hands and saying that you have a right to express your non-opinion (which is entirely centered in taking people down for expressing theirs while pretending you don't get involved in politics, no matter how much you claim otherwise), that you'd just rather sit there, or volunteer in some non-resistance/feel good manner as if the very American system you have confidence in isn't being dismantled right before your eyes, THAT is heart breaking. Wake up.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Jamie. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and finding a creative and productive way in which to share your concerns.
ReplyDeleteIf you live in America, instead of a North American colony, thank someone who protested.
ReplyDeleteIf you came to America in a slave ship, and you are no longer a slave, thank someone who protested.
If you are African-American and you can vote, thank someone who protested.
If you are a woman and you can vote, thank someone who protested.
If you are woman and you can get an education, work, hold property, and fight for custody of your children, thank someone who protested.
If you are African-American and you don't have to drink out of a separate water fountain, use a separate bathroom, or go to a segregated school, thank someone who protested.
Jamie, I love this quilt and hope to see it as a poster someday. QuiltShop Gal, volunteering is wonderful and we should all do it whenever we can. However, it won't bring back funding for public schools, the National Endowment for the Arts, Public Broadcasting, or school breakfasts, just to mention a few of the programs that are currently slated to be cut by our legislature, not to mention the personal and human rights that are under attack. As the ACLU says, "Dissent is Patriotic" and this is the most urgent time for dissent I've seen in my 67 years. We hope that legislators will listen to the public outcry if they fear they won't be re-elected, if for no other reason, and that they will protect the interests of others besides the wealthy 1%.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jenny! I appreciate your kind words in support of the fight!
DeleteI feel very uncomfortable with out current leaders also! What a good way to voice your concerns!
ReplyDeleteThank you Marlynne. I appreciate your support!
DeleteArt has always been a lens through which we look at issues. Quilts have historically been an important means of expression for women who often had no other voice. The beautiful thing about art and voicing our concerns through it is that we have the opportunity for dialogue with those who may not agree with us. We need this now more than ever!
ReplyDelete