This debat about is needlework as art is at least 130 years old! I studied embroidery at the Royal School of Needlework in London and one of the hammers we used for stretching work with was marked RSAN - Royal School of Art Needlework, which was it's original name. I don't know when the name change happened to RSN but it was certainly considered a form of art by Edward Byrne-Jones and (Walter?) Crane who provided designs/commissions in the early days. They were part of the Art Noveau group of designers along with William Morris etc.

Rosemary

Well, for my .02 I consider myself an artist (I guess) who uses quilting techniques as my medium. Sometimes I stop short of binding a quilt; instead I stretch the quilt over a pine frame and (gasp!) staple it in place. Then I have the resulting "canvas" decoratively framed.

On one of my office wall I have a small quilt from a Laura Wasilowski design. I had a mother and her 6 y/o son at my desk while I checked something on the computer. The 6 y/o saw the quilt (which is 12" x 12") and said, "look, there's a quilt!" From the mouth of babes!

Maggie in E. Central Illinois

Miles, there have been ALOT of debates since I've been quilting (1983). Years ago, some people thought a wall quilt shouldn't be called a quilt because it wasn't large enough to go on a bed! Now the tug of war about art/craft. I'm a traditional quilter but I really enjoy all of the methods and types of quilts that people are making. I probably wouldn't make these types of quilts myself, but I think the spectrum of quilting is wonderful. Judy in Torrance

Ditto!!!
eileenkny

I, too, love that quote.

bettyannseeman wrote:
Great quote, Betty Ann! I am going to borrow that for my e-mail signature!

There is that Quote that says, "She who works with her hands is a laborer. She who works with her hands and her head is a craftsman. She who works with her hands, her head and her heart is an artist. I personally consider myself an artist. My media is fiber. Betty Ann

ipquilter wrote: I think it's probably because quilting has, over the years, been considered untilitarian; a craft that women learn to provide warmth for their families. Quilts went on beds, art went on walls.
JMHO,
eileenkny

Me personally...I have a very broad difinition of "art". Except when it comes to my work. How silly is that? Lately I've finally began to seriously call my work art. Why did I have such a problem with that?

I live under a rock; I had no idea there was a "debate", much less article being written about it. Go figure...

I saw an interesting article in the newsletter from the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, which I think speaks to the ongoing debate about "art quilts". It can be found here: http://www.fccava.org/FCCA-Articles2009/Art-vrs-Craft.pdf

and it links to a more extensive article here: http://www.denisdutton.com/rnz_craft.htm

Pretty interesting!
Florence