Browsing around the Cross Stitch universe, I recently discovered what is by far the most unsettling Cross Stitch piece I have ever seen. I don't usually bat an eye at Cross Stitch porn (yes, it it is out there) or other forms of modern embroidery, but this piece has me wondering why anyone would want to stitch a project like this. I usually ascribe to the theory "To each his or her own." What is art to me may be sheer ugliness to others. Sometimes I may not agree with the statement an artist is making, but his or her right to create it is never in question for me.
Still I find this piece really disturbing. The project in question is Noelle Mason's work, "Nothing Much Happened Today (for Eric and Dylan)." Inspired by the tragedy at Columbine High School, Noelle chose to stitch one of the security camera images captured that day.
The image is not graphic, but there are guns involved. It only gives a hint at what is to come. (If you are easily offended, however, don't visit her site or any of the others posted in this blog because they may have an image of the work posted.)
I found the image disturbing, but not terribly so. I am not sure what statement Noelle Mason is making, but it certainly made me think.
What do you think of this project? Would you stitch a project like this to make a statement? Personally, I think I would not. But that may only because I have so many other projects in mind that I only have time for nice tame pretty projects and no time for stitching statements.
Let us know what you think by posting a comment.
You may also want to read reactions to this project from around the web:
Still I find this piece really disturbing. The project in question is Noelle Mason's work, "Nothing Much Happened Today (for Eric and Dylan)." Inspired by the tragedy at Columbine High School, Noelle chose to stitch one of the security camera images captured that day.
The image is not graphic, but there are guns involved. It only gives a hint at what is to come. (If you are easily offended, however, don't visit her site or any of the others posted in this blog because they may have an image of the work posted.)
I found the image disturbing, but not terribly so. I am not sure what statement Noelle Mason is making, but it certainly made me think.
What do you think of this project? Would you stitch a project like this to make a statement? Personally, I think I would not. But that may only because I have so many other projects in mind that I only have time for nice tame pretty projects and no time for stitching statements.
Let us know what you think by posting a comment.
You may also want to read reactions to this project from around the web:
Comments
thank you for this article! i have long been fascinated by iconic violence and have even considered stitching this exact image. i think the medium of cross stitch in terms of this image is definitely unsettling…and that’s presumably the artist’s intent. i wonder, though, if some might take issue with the use of this particular image, as it may be seen as glorifying the event. i don’t see it that way, but can understand why others might.
That is a disturbing project. Maybe this person is using the project to work through her feelings about the tragedy. My son is taking a criminal justice course on “Murder in America” and has learned that Americans’ fascination with murder and serial killings is caused in part by a psychological refusal to accept these events as real.
I am unclear as to what statement is being made by this project. If I’m going to spend a lot of my time working on and staring at a project, I can guarantee it will not be the face of a killer or a scene of immense pain and senseless violence. I don’t see how this would help someone to “work through” or make sense out of such an act. Most of the projects I work on are gifts for others or for donations to charity, and I prefer to work on things that will have a positive impact for them, as well as for me. Just my opinion–as you said, to each his/her own.
Thank you for sharing this. I totally respect and love the juxtaposition of the violent image with the “warm fuzzy” medium of cross stitch.
I would however agree that if I am putting that much time into a project I want it to be of something I will want to look at a lot. This not being the case with this image.
Connie, I agree with you on freedom of expression, but like you I am not really interested in art of this sort.
For those who get something positive out of it, more power to them.
However, I believe there is risk of such art titillating and encouraging abnormal, dangerous, antisocial behavior.
I don’t want censorship, but I would ask artists to think deeply about the possible audience their work will attract and the effect it may have.
Where do sociopaths get their horrible ideas? Somehow, somewhere a seed was planted.
Wow! As an artist I think she has made a successful work if it creates this much reaction. America has some of the the most widespread, horrific and prevalent gun cultures in the world! I hardly think a cross-stitch is going to make things worse! If it makes people a little uncomfortable, good! What needs to happen before things change? If you sterilize reality, and sweep it under the rug, you only make yourself feel “better”, you can face the reality of what she is conveying or get annoyed because it has entered your safe world. Where is it written that cross-stitch has laws on what is acceptable – what is not? Who are you to veto her work? Why not veto the laws that allow such guns and violence instead, make the world a better place through education and reform not resentment. Think about it. Don’t just react, act.
Net – I appreciate your passion, but do let me point out that I never vetoed the work – To each his or her own I said.
If I were sweeping things under the rug, I’d have never featured the project here
The cross-stitch of the horror of Columbine discussed me, I think I am very much for freedom of speecxh and right to ones beliefs but this along with cross stitch porn should be in a class of it own. A little disturbing Huh—Noella McIntosh
The link no longer shows the columbine cross stitch.
Thanks for the info Sandy! I corrected it.