A Quilted Controversy: AQS’s Pattern of Censorship and the Call for Change

 Dearest Readers,  

One had dared to hope that with new ownership, the American Quilter’s Society (AQS) might at last shake the dust from its antiquated ways and step boldly into the future. Yet, alas, that hope has been dashed upon the rocks of yet another scandal. The recent removal of two art quilts from the SAQA Global Exhibition Color in Context: Red proves that while the leadership may have changed, AQS’s deep-seated fear of controversy remains as stitched into its fabric as ever.  

But let us not feign surprise, dear readers, for AQS has a long and storied tradition of clutching its pearls at the mere hint of artistic expression that strays beyond quaint barns and rolling hills. This is the very same organization that, in 2016, abruptly pulled Kathy Nida’s quilts from its Grand Rapids show after receiving complaints—without so much as a whisper to the artist herself. And let us not forget the infamous censorship of Amigos Muertos by Jonathan Shannon, a tribute to artists lost to AIDS and cancer, deemed too daring for AQS’s delicate sensibilities. That very quilt, rejected on home soil, would go on to win international acclaim.  

One might have imagined that new leadership would signal a fresh approach—one that acknowledges quilting as an evolving art form capable of addressing complex themes. Instead, this latest act of censorship only confirms that AQS remains shackled to the past, unwilling to embrace the broader artistic conversations unfolding in the quilting world. Their silence on the matter is deafening, revealing not just hesitation but outright fear.  

In response, calls to boycott AQS have grown louder. More and more quilters are choosing to take their talents, their voices, and indeed, their dollars, elsewhere. Fortunately, the quilting world does not begin and end with one organization. There are other national and international shows—ones that have demonstrated the courage to display quilts that evoke emotion, challenge perspectives, and honor the artist’s voice rather than silence it. It is these shows, these promoters, and these organizations that deserve the attention and support of today’s quiltmakers.  

So, my dear readers, will you continue to stitch within the confines of the past, or will you embrace the unbounded potential of the future? The choice, as ever, is yours.  

Yours in the pursuit of unbridled expression,  

**Mistress Hemlock**  

*P.S. The only thing AQS fears more than a bold quilt is an artist who refuses to be silenced. Perhaps it’s time we all take our stitches—and our business—elsewhere.*

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