Reagan Library and Quilts

Re “Reagan Library Pulls 2 Quilts,” June 4.

Though I have never viewed the quilt exhibition, I am haunted by the reply of Sarah Fayman after hearing that the quilt she helped piece together was removed: “We thought it was really funny. . . . We still think it’s funny, and I think some people just overreacted a bit.”

The scenes mentioned in the article that had been depicted in the quilt are indeed violent and upsetting to our moral sensibilities.

As a society, we view quilts as works of art and love. Art does seek to enhance our sensitivity to the plights of mankind through intense images at times, but I cannot view this quilt as a work of art. In my opinion, stitching depictions of violence on a quilt for parody’s sake is certainly not funny and not to be treated lightly.

Upon first viewing a portion of the quilt in the newspaper before reading the article, I thought that the quilter had had an abusive childhood and was recounting scenes of fear through her artwork. As I read the article further and learned that it was a parody on a quilt pattern, I became deeply troubled and saddened that Ms. Fayman and her group chose to make light of violence in order to make their statement.

I was also disheartened by the comment from Nan Mostacciuolo: “The kids probably wouldn’t even have noticed it, anyway.”

When are we going to learn that kids notice a lot more than we adults ever want to realize or give them credit for?

The time has come to question our acceptance of violence in any manner, shape or form.

DOLORES M. CALDERIN, Ventura