Quilter Charges Censorship After Rejection Of `Death' Quilt

NOVATO, Calif. - When Jonathan Shannon's quilts dealt with fish and airplanes, he was embraced by quilting organizations.

But then he started sewing about death.

His latest quilt, dedicated to artists who have died AIDS and cancer, has been rejected from the American Quilter's Society Show and Contest in Paducah, Ky.

Last year, the Belvedere, Calif., artist became the first male winner of the prestigious contest with a quilt depicting biplanes.

To Shannon, the rejection of his new quilt is censorship.

Shannon's new quilt, called "Amigos Muertos" (Dead Friends), features two dancing skeletons as a reflection of the Mexican "Day of the Dead" celebration. The quilt also shows the growing presence of the Mexican culture in America, he said.

Contest officials say Shannon's work wasn't good enough. He says he was told by a contest juror his work is too upsetting for the show.

"I had no idea contextual censorship was going on," said Shannon. "I have no problem with being rejected for design or workmanship. But I have a big problem in being rejected for content.

"There isn't anything very radical in this quilt," he says, describing Mexico's tradition of celebrating and reminiscing about dead family members and friends.

"I really made it to be seen and for its message to be understood," he said.

Hundreds of Shannon's supporters have sent letters and petitions to the society urging it to let "Amigos Muertos" in the contest this month.

Hundreds also signed a petition at the recent East Bay Heritage Quilters show, one the largest Bay Area quilt shows.

In a letter to one Shannon's backers, the society president, Meredith Schroeder, dismissed charges of censorship and stressed that his was one of the 587 quilts that weren't good enough for the 400-quilt show.

"Jonathan's credibility is in question, he has misrepresented the truth to his friends to get them to act on his behalf to pressure AQS to reconsider his quilt and accept it into the show," Schroeder wrote to the East Bay Heritage Quilters.