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Boycott JoAnn’s Fabrics for having banned Quilters Home Magazine

Wow….stupid people aren’t just on Wall Street; they apparently also inhabit the upper echelons of JoAnns Fabrics.  As a result of their decision to ban the March issue of Quilters Home Magazine because of an article evaluating controversial art quilts, I’d like to issue a call to boycott JoAnns until they reconsider their ill-advised decision and re-stock the issue.  Basically, JoAnns has decided that we are too stooopid to make our own decisions about what we want to read.  NOT.  Neither am I too stupid to decide where to spend my money.  I will spend it elsewhere!  I do not need to be told by someone else what I *should* or shouldn’t read.

Fundamentally, limiting public discourse –censorship– is against what we stand for as a nation.  There is a reason why Freedom of Speech is the FIRST amendment to the US Constitution, and the decision makers at JoAnns would do well to re-visit their high school civics texts along with a couple hundred years of history.

What follows is Mark Lipinski’s post which he shared on his yahoo group, Pickle Road (and printed here with his blessing).  To join the group, click here to be directed to the group home page.

Hello Pickles,

Here’s the scoop. I’m very sad to report that Jo-Ann Fabric and
Crafts has made the decision to ban the March issue of Mark
Lipinski’s Quilter’s Home magazine due to an article on “Shocking
Quilts and Controversial Patchwork: How Far is too Far?” Which
explores the ongoing debate as to whether art quilts have a place in
quilt shows, and if so, who makes the choice as to what is
appropriate or not. Of course, you must see the irony in this.

The quilts involved are:

The L Word by Diane Johns
God of OUr Silent Tears I by Gwendolyn Magee
Southern Heritage/Southern Shame by Gwendolyn Magee
I Remain by Randall Cook
Uncertainty by Galye McKay
Jesus Get Your Gun by Shawn Quinlan
Helping Hand by Mary Beth Bellah

In the article are photos of 7 art quilts that have either caused
controversy, raised an eyebrow, or have been banned in art exhibits
and/or quilt shows at one time or another (most, if not all, of these
quilts have been hung in public shows without incident at some
point) — and they range from political, social, religious, and
sexual (heterosexual and homosexual)issues. Nothing could be rated
more than PG-13, if that. That said, to be sure that all appropriate
precautions were taken; I had the magazine that are sold on the
newsstand wrapped in a clear plastic bag so to protect anyone who
might find it objectionable (which, of course, is the point of the
article).

However, the issue has been still been banned, which I find
personally upsetting because I think it’s a good article, but also
upsetting as part of the press being censored, art being censored,
and as a quilter who is one who doesn’t believe that a quilt is only
for use on a bed, that women/quilters can make their own decisions
about what they’d like to read/see, and more, that it pains me that
the industry at large is still so seemingly out of touch with who the
2009 woman/man/quilter is, as we continue to fight the stereotype
that we are all not little old boring subservient church ladies .

I’m really upset over it. This is a valid topic for a quilting
magazine and to me; it feels like someone painting the clothes over
Michelangelo’s paintings (which had been done).

Oh well, that’s the news. Please, support the magazine this month.
If you normally buy QH at Jo-Ann please know that you can find this
issue at Sam’s Club, instead. Also, don’t forget to buy it from
eQuilter.com and other online shops and TOTALLY you local quilt
shops! You can also find it at Barnes & Noble and Borders, etc.

Thanks! I’m sorry about all of this,and am really crushed and
confused, but please pass the information around so other quilters
know where they can find this issue.

xoxom (mark’s signature line)

End of quoted message.

To write to JoAnns and express your opinion on this matter, write to

Darrell Webb,
Chairman and CEO of Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores
5555 Darrow Rd.
Hudson, OH 44236
Main number: 330-656-2600

Lisa Greb
Director of Public Relations
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores
5555 Darrow Rd.
Hudson, OH 44236
330-463-3442
lisa.greb@jo-annstores.com

CK Media publishes Quilters Home Magazine and a number of other well known magazines.  To express your support for them and their policies encouraging open discussion, buy their magazines

McCall’s Quilting
McCall’s Quick Quilts
Quiltmaker
Quilter’s Newsletter
Sew News
and write to them at:

CK Media CEO, Will Marks, at wmarks@ckmedia.com

Thanks!

5 Responses to “Boycott JoAnn’s Fabrics for having banned Quilters Home Magazine”

  1. sueeeus Says:

    Good grief! Better close the Louvre, what with all those naked paintings and sculptures hanging around. What ever happened to artful expression? Often, controversy is the point!

  2. JulieZS Says:

    Wow! Is that ever a lame decision. Thanks for the addresses so I can write a steamin’ mad letter!

  3. Maggie in E. Central Illinois Says:

    Yikes! I have never read Quilters Home Magazine, although have heard good things about it. I will now have to go buy one to see what the buzz is all about. I don’t like going to our local JoAnn’s as it has had a major leak in its roof for way over 5 years, and it has never been fixed. During rainy season, they just funnel plastic sheeting from the roof to a bucket on the floor. Of course, this is right in the quilter’s area! I will share this information with my quilt guild.

  4. Samantha Says:

    One question: How did Joanns know what was in the magazine? Do they receive advance copies of all the mags they sell? I’ve heard subscriptions to the mag are down, lots of non-renewals because of poor service. This could be nothing more than a publicity stunt to stir up interest in the mag. I love my local Joanns and the coupons I get. This isn’t going to stop me from shopping there. BTW, it isn’t censorship because you can still buy it other places and it isn’t a first amendment issue ’cause nobody told him not to write the article.

  5. Jerry Lee Atwood Says:

    Hello! I did a google search for “JoAnn Boycott” to see if anyone else is doing this and I am happy to see that other people think this is all as ridiculous as I do. I live in Indianapolis and I have started a boycott of our local JoAnn Stores. I Sent an email to them as well informing them of my decision and I would encourage everyone else who’s boycotting thier stores to do the same. By the way, I sent my email on Sunday and they’ve yet to reply.