Politicians target art funds when searching for budget cuts

Fabric Artist Eileen Doughty of Alexandria, VA, presents a rebuttal to what several politicians are saying about the value (or lack of) funding to art and artists.

Photo: Here's an image of one of her new Obama pieces, "Freedom's Box". Basically an allegory of Pandora's Box. Bush invoked Freedom (which is personified by the Statue on top of the capitol), but it had unforeseen consequences, letting loose all the troubles. Hope remains - symbolized by a golden brown bird, Obama. To see more of Eileen's activist quilts, check out this link.

With the economy in the tank and government budgets being slashed, it was just a matter of time till the art community was targeted. Here are two recent examples:

• Washington State Senator Steve Hobbs has introduced a bill which would remove the requirement to purchase art for public buildings for the years 2010 and 2011. Currently, Washington state agencies set aside half of 1 percent of the cost of any new government building to purchase public art.

• U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers expressed concern about for $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts in the stimulus bill. "That's not a(stimulus) expenditure," Rogers said. "You may like the NEA, but $50 million in art spending is not a stimulus in the economy."

So Congressman, what am I, chopped liver? Art doesn't stimulate the economy? I, as an artist do not contribute to economic stimulus? Perhaps these politicians subscribe to the common stereotype that artists should be starving and are happy to be broke.

Let's be real. I am a studio artist and have been helping to support my family with sales of my art for about 17 years. With my oldest going to college next year, that income will be even more necessary.

I do not make my art in a vacuum, pulling both ideas and materials out of thin air. Let's take a look at where I fit in "stimulating the economy" by not only selling, but by buying goods and services from other companies.

Here's a quick list, off the top of my head:

• business stores like Staples, for paper and ink and copying services

• freight companies: USPS, FedEx, UPS

• local fabric stores and my local woman-owned quilt shop

• insurance company

• Internet service for my website hosting

• art supplies - local stores, preferably locally owned (not chains)

• hardware stores, prefer the locally owned one in my town

• art galleries, museums, and other venues that show art

• bookstores, to buy publications on art and business

• magazines on art, art quilts, public art, business

• framing shops

• art consultants, architects, and others who help make those percent-for-art projects a reality

Then there is the the Torpedo Factory, a huge art center in Alexandria, Virginia. I am a member of a co-op which has had a gallery there since the place was renovated and reopened in 1974. This place draws crowds of people from all over. It is not unusual to have visitors from Europe and Australia and Japan, let alone every state of our Union. This year it became a "port" for a new water taxi that goes to a few hot spots along the Potomac. It also anchors the trolley system that runs through Old Town Alexandria. How many tourist dollars do you suppose our art helps bring to this area? Do you think the hotels and restaurants, airports, metro transportation system, taxi companies would notice if we went under?

I pay state taxes on retail sales and fed income taxes. That's your salary, Mr Politician. And I vote.

No, I'm not just chopped liver. I'm a portion of a nutritious and ambitious five course meal.

Photo: Eileen Doughty


Eileen is definitely NOT chopped liver. I met her via the Internet several years ago. I'm not sure if it was when I interviewed her for an article in Quilters World Magazine or just what it was that brought us together. She has been in my life so long I can't remember when she wasn't. She has certainly been patient and opened up a whole new world of fabric artistry to me.

Since that first interview, she has graciously answered questions and helped me connect with other artists, including Thelma Smith and her Activist Quilts exhibit "Changing the World One Thread at a Time." Astounded at what artists were doing with fabrics and what messages they incorporated in them, I quickly became an ardent fan of this free speech forum they have created. I also admire Eileen because she pursued an amazing first career -- cartography. Anyone who sees maps, must also see them as art forms. Exact and exacting art forms.

In 1991, Eileen, who had resigned her position as a supervisory cartographer to stay home with her newborn daughter, opened her business "Doughty Designs."

Photo above: Root Domain, one of Eileen's favorite projects incorporates thread painting and offers much for us to take away from it.

She describes her artwork's evolution: "My philosophy is that I am a fiber artist, and my work should emphasize that it cannot be achieved with a simple flat surface. My newest work has more dimensionality by employing frayed edges, weaving, holes, non-cotton fabrics, multiple layers, etc. I am also learning how to express my worldview and political opinions in my art."

Here are a couple of upcoming shows where you can enjoy her work if you're in the neighborhood:

• February 9 - March 5, 2009 "President Obama: A Celebration in Art Quilts"Cafritz Arts Center, Montgomery College, Takoma Park, Maryland
  

• March 25 – April 8, 2009 Taiwan International Quilt Exhibition 2009 National Tainan Living Art Center, Tainan city, Taiwan
  

Activist, Artist, dies. His art and contribution lives on

Living through an era, certainly does not make one an expert on it. Only on my tiny little aspect of it. And in the 1960s when Americans protested the war in Vietnam, I lived in a cozy little farming community safe in my child's world. But thankfully there were others committed to keeping our country on the right track.

One of those, an activist and artist, Tom Lewis, stepped up the peaceful demonstrations against the war and was among the "Cantonsville Nine" who introduced the more violent approach to war demonstrations -- attacking Selective Service offices and burning draft cards.

It wasn't many years after Mr. Lewis took his stand that I wished I had the guts to do something like that to save the young men of my community, my fiance, my neighbors, my brother from going off to that senseless war.

Somethings never change, except now we have no Selective Service to silence. But Mr. Lewis continued to protest, right up to his death on April 4, the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s death.

I can't tell you any better about Tom Lewis and his life than Scott Schaeffer-Duffy has at "Inside the Belly of the Beltway Beast." Also, BaltimoreSun offers another homage to this man's life work.

In the photo above, Mr. Lewis poses next to his award winning art at the Fitchburg Art Museum in 2004. He never stopped standing up for his beliefs and opposing those activities he knew to be wrong. He was among protesters outside of the White House in 2005 and more recently against Darfur at the Sudanese Embassy.

Perhaps more long lasting than even his part in history will be his art. Artists are the world's first activists and fiber artists know how to needle their art to get their voices heard. Tom certainly voices my sentiments about war: "No More War. War Never Again. Peace, it is peace which guides the destinies of people..." Amen. I hope he found his peace.

Healing Quilts come in all styles

When I hear the term 'healing quilt' my memory brings forward a snapshot of the handmade quilts my grandmother and mother made and wrapped me in on sick days. It also reminds me of the various charity quilts that are made for people suffering from various diseases from AIDS to infants born with alcoholism and face withdrawal the first days of their lives.

But, The Society for the Arts in Health Care offer a twist on the healing quilt in the 27 quilts that have traveled in The Healing Gardens Quilt exhibit from 2002 through 2005 and can be viewed at their website. Many other aspects of this website will intrigue you concerning art and healing, take some time to browse. You'll see a variety of 'healing' quilts featured there. The photo featured here is of the quilt made by Judy A. House, "Podophyllum Peltatum," 34" x 37."

The Podophyllum Peltatum that House used for her quilt may be more familiar to you by its other name: May apple. I remember seeing patches of this plant growing for miles along an overgrown Ohio fence row beneath stand of scrubby maples. Other regions may refer to it as Devil's apple, hog apple, Indian apple, umbrella plant, wild lemon and American mandrake. It is not a true mandrake.

The twenty-seven Healing Gardens quilts feature approximately twenty-four varieties of plants that are being scrutinized as sources for potential cancer fighting drugs. These Northern Virginia quilters including Jinny Beyer, Barbara Bockman, and Eileen Cavanagh, chose plants with names like Brucea Antidysenterica or Ochrosla Vitiensis or Catharanthus Roseus and recreated them on their individual quilts using all forms of quilting -- piecing and applique, hand and machine and embroidery.

The quilt speaks of natural healing, drugs found in nature, and plants yet to be explored for their medicinal uses. As a by product of these quilts, thoughts also follow the natural progression to the need to care for and nurture our environment so these plants are not lost and their healing properties forever closed to us.

It is astounding what a small percentage of plants man has actually explored. And yet, twenty-five percent of modern drugs used in the U.S. today derived from plants. Plant medicine is not new.

Animals and man have been using it for all times. Prehistoric cave drawings depict the use of plants.

Wikipedia reports: "There is evidence from the Shanidar Cave in Iraq that suggests Neanderthals living 60,000 years ago used medicinal plants. A body that was unearthed there had been buried with eight species of plants which are still widely used in ethnomedicine around the world.^[6]"

Animals have sought out plants for their health. Watch your house cat seek grass to cure fur balls and indigestion. Researchers from Ohio Weslyan University discovered that some birds chose nest materials that are rich in antimicrobials.

Only since industrialization have countries thumbed their noses at natural remedies. Thankfully hearty souls, such as these quilters, continue to demonstrate the potent cures that nature provides. Science is listening. I just hope it isn't too late and we haven't destroyed the plants that will save mankind.