Unraveling at the Seams: AQS Faces Backlash Over Censorship

Dearest Readers,  

The American Quilter’s Society has once again fumbled their thread, and the quilting community is, quite rightfully, in no mood to let it slide. With each passing day, the voices calling for a boycott grow louder, and after their latest display of cowardice, one must wonder—does AQS truly believe it can ignore the very people who have supported it for decades?  

Let us not forget, my dears, that this is not the first time AQS has cowered in the face of controversy. From their censorship of Jonathan Shannon’s *Amigos Muertos* to their infamous banning of Kathy Nida’s art quilts, they have repeatedly demonstrated a preference for sanitized, risk-free displays over the raw and powerful storytelling that defines quilting as an art form. And now, with their refusal to display *Color in Context: Red* in its entirety, they have once again drawn a line in the sand—one that excludes quilters whose work does not conform to their ever-narrowing definition of "acceptable."  

But the tides are shifting, and quilters are no longer willing to accept this outdated gatekeeping. Across social media, the hashtags #BoycottAQS and #CensorshipInQuilting are gaining momentum. Longtime AQS members are reconsidering their affiliations, vendors are questioning whether their dollars are best spent at AQS events, and artists are looking elsewhere for opportunities to exhibit their work without fear of having it quietly removed from the walls.  

For those who believe in supporting quilt shows that truly value artistic expression, the good news is this: alternatives abound. QuiltCon has made a name for itself as a place where contemporary quilting thrives, while independent and regional quilt festivals are stepping up to create platforms for work that challenges, questions, and inspires. Perhaps, rather than waiting for AQS to catch up with the times, it is time to let them stay behind.  

And what of AQS’s new leadership? Two men now sit at the helm, but their silence in the wake of this scandal speaks volumes. If they had any intention of ushering AQS into the future, this was their moment to prove it. Instead, they have followed the well-worn path of their predecessors, reinforcing the very culture of censorship that is driving quilters away.  

So, dear readers, the question is no longer *should* we boycott AQS—it is *why haven’t we already?*  

Yours in sharp needles and sharper words,  

**Mistress Hemlock**  

*P.S. If AQS truly believes they can stitch over this scandal and hope it disappears, they may want to check their seams. The quilting community is watching—and we are not afraid to rip out the stitches of institutions that no longer serve us.*

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