Ever wonder about the power of quilts to reflect and express the trials, tragedies and tribulations of human life? http://www.quiltindex.org/journals/article.php?Akid=2-B-84
At the top of this page this disclaimer appears: "Comments do not represent the opinions of the Chattanooga Times Free Press, nor does it review every comment. Profanities, slurs and libelous remarks are prohibited. For more information you can view our Terms & Conditions and/or Ethics policy." My question, respectfully asked, is: since the name of the author does not appear on the above article, does this mean the above article represents "the opinions" of the Chattanooga Times Free Press owner? Editorial board? Whose opinion does the article represent? Thank you.
Whose opinion does this article reflect? Why didn't the person put his/her name at the top of the page and take credit for his/her opinions? I am really quite astonished by this writer's position given the contributions that the creative, artistic women of Tennessee have played in American history...and yes, specially quilt history. One of Tennessee's acclaimed quilt artists and quilt historians---Bets Ramsey of Chattanooga, no less---received the Governor's Distinguished Artist Award in 2005, Tennessee's highest honor in the arts.
In addition, Ramsey, along with internationally distinguished author and quilt historian Merikay Waldvogel of Knoxville, are Inductees of the International Quilters Hall of Fame. You can read about Waldvogel's contributions to American history here http://thequiltershalloffame.blogspot.com/2009/08/celebration-2009-report-part-i.html
Quilters and quilt historians have made no small contribution to American history, not to mention women's history in particular. Given the history of the repression of the " female voice and talent" in American history prior to the 20th century, were it not for women's artistic skill with a threaded needle, much of "women's voice" (her opinions and creative talents) would have been lost in the fog of male dominated recording of American history. The legacy of quilt making specifically could easily have been totally lost in male dominated history, had it not been for female quilt historians.
Textiles are one of the most diverse and inclusive vehicles of teaching history that exists since the history of quilts is so intimately intertwined with ethnic history, the histories of international trade, the Industrial Revolution, the American Revolution, Colonialism, women's history, and family and community history. The courses and collection offered by IQSC touch upon all of the above. If one wants to argue that federal tax dollars should not support this museum and its classes, then one must attack every museum and every institution of higher learning in this country that receives tax dollars. It is my impression that this writer was not attacking the awarding of tax dollars per se but specifically the "irrelevancy" of what this particular institution --- the International Quilt Study Center --- has to offer. Obviously, the writer of this article has no awareness of what the IQSC is actually about and the unique role it is now playing on the international scene of textile history. I challenge the author of this article to do his/her homework about textile history---and quilt history in particular---and then write a 2nd article about the "insignificance" of quilt history and the IQSC.
Karen B. Alexander
Independent Quilt Historian
member American Quilt Study Group since 1981
Quilt History Reports - blog