Cultural Differences in Quilt Aesthetics

Cultural Differences in Quilt Aesthetics:

"Our notions of quilts are based on our own cultural values. To try to understand why someone else would make a quilt that we see as fat and ugly from another point of view, consider this scenario: Say you are a child attending a big family reunion at your grandmother's house. There aren't enough beds to go around, so your grandmother makes you up a pallet on the floor. She folds a couple of big thick quilts, and you snuggle in between them. What are the sensations and emotional experiences that you and your grandmother experience as a result of this gesture? An experience like this would likely influence your perception of quilts for the rest of your life. In many cultures, thickness and softness represent concepts of generosity and plentitude. A thin quilt, on the other hand, might be perceived as skimpy, stingy, and inadequate.'"