Just had to say something

I just had to post today to say something in support of my mate Annabel Rainbow. Annabel makes quilts, knock-your-socks-off quilts, stop you in your tracks, make you look, make you think quilts. I know this because I've seen her quilts at exhibition and I've seen the visitors admiring them, studying them, talking, smiling and even crying in front of them.

An appeal came by email to submit quilts for World Quilt and Textile in the US to be part of the UK contingent. I said Linda and I were going to have a go and suggested to Annabel that she ought to too. We were all selected and happily sent our quilts via the UK co-ordinator to the US. None of us could attend in person so we welcomed photos emailed to us to get a feel for the show and how the quilts looked. Mine hadn't faired too well, having obviously been folded for a while with presumably a pile of other quilts on top. My stuff tends to crease quite badly because I quilt closely and the poplin that I use top and botton tend to hold a fold terribly. But there you go, one of the pitfalls when sending work overseas - I know it's expensive to send everything rolled. At least my quilt didn't require a warning sign like Annabel's. Yes a warning sign.

Annabel's an artist. She paints nudes. Shocking isn't it? Well no actually. Oh, unless you're at a quilt show. And that's not the half of it, the sign is not enough, the quilt is apparently hung behind a curtain so as not to offend. Now I know by now you're itching to see the graphic, sexually explicit nudity that must surely be on display. Well, if you are easily offended by a bit of skin look away now...

Life 1 - Measures of Time by Annabel Rainbow

No, none of that. Just an older, slightly overweight woman who looks, well, who probably looks like the average quilt show visitor. This is a clever, witty, beautifully drawn and painted, skilfully pieced and quilted piece of work. We all know that the naked human body has featured in art from the beginning of time. Is it any wonder, when attitudes that have led to this censorship prevail, that the quilt world is not viewed on a par with other art forms such as painting, photography and sculpture? I am presuming that should David ever go on tour he'll be accompanied with a modesty screen for those visitors of a nervous disposition.

I wonder about the sort of people who complain about art like this. Those who feel it necessary to put up a sign and a curtain. I wonder how they go about getting dressed and undressed, presumably tackling the whole procedure in the dark for fear of accidentally glancing downwards. Fair enough, don't buy it, don't put it on your lounge wall, but don't be the reason that art like this may not be shown at other quilt show venues in your country. 

If you're made of strong stuff and think you can handle a bit more nudity (and great art) why not head over to Annabel's website or blog to see more.