‘Piece-ful Protest’ exhibit booted from local bank, finds sanctuary in Laguna church
Art, by nature, is a medium of self-expression.
Allyson Allen’s practiced hands have mastered getting the message across through quilting, demonstrating an ability to engage viewers of her work with the use of color, imagery and words.
The subject matter may not be agreeable, and it may not be comfortable to gaze upon, but much of what Allen creates provokes thought and evokes a strong emotional response.
Allen said she was not surprised but nevertheless disappointed last month when her “Piece-ful Protest” exhibit, which covers hotbed social issues, was deemed too controversial by some to remain on display in the gallery space of the Wells Fargo banking branch in Laguna Beach.
She had considered the possibility that select pieces thought to be too “edgy” may be taken down. Instead, the entire exhibit had to go.
Wells Fargo spokesperson Josefina Talavera declined to state how long the exhibit had been on display at its bank on Ocean Avenue or what ultimately led to its removal, but issued the following statement on behalf of the bank: “Wells Fargo is committed to and invested in the Laguna Beach community — our support of the Community Art Project program is a reflection of that commitment. We’re equally committed to ensuring a culture and customer experience that welcomes all.”
The 36-quilt collection is now on view inside Bridge Hall at Neighborhood Congregational Church in Laguna Beach, and as the name suggests, many of the works can be seen as drawing a line in the sand.
The quilts address scores of issues, ranging from civil rights, social justice and the women’s movement to environmentalism and partisan politics.
“[The exhibit] explains that these are images or actual text that would have been on signs from different rallies, marches and protests over the past two years, in particular, but some of these are topics that go back decades,” Allen said. “Women’s rights or voting or animal activism, any of those things that tragically still have not been eradicated or addressed. Unfortunately, they’ll probably still be appropriate issues of protest 10 years from now.”
Allen, an Inland Empire resident who has practiced quilting for more than 30 years, refers to her quilts as information art.
Guests who visit Bridge Hall to take in the project notice a quilted banner that surely speaks to how bold, brash and loud Allen’s work can be. “Warning,” a quilt at the front entrance, makes several references to censorship, before stating, “This exhibit will trigger self-reflection.”
Faye Baglin, a board member of Laguna Beach Community Art Project, said she feels art should open minds and cause contemplation from those who come across it. Baglin, who is serving as a docent for Allen’s work, has found that is happening when people visit the exhibit.
“What I’m observing is that we have an exhibit guide to let them learn a little bit more about the pieces and what Allyson was speaking of, but I haven’t seen people really look at it because the art speaks for itself,” Baglin said. “I’ve just watched people standing in front of the pieces, and whether they’re getting teary-eyed or they’re nodding their head, you can see that they understand it; or I hear them talking to each other and affirming that this is something that we need to fix. Mankind needs to do a better job, so it’s really touching people.”
Additional topics covered by the quilts include LGBTQ rights, COVID-19 awareness, the debate on gun control, immigration, and messaging that implores the public to choose peace over war.
“Consequences,” which showcased man at the tipping point and mankind at the other end of a stack of dominoes, was a particularly detailed work. The dominoes in between are labeled with man-made events such as oil spills and over-fishing, indicating that humans are rolling the dice on their future.
In “Glass Ceiling,” Allen turns to pop culture, as a set of high heels featuring Wonder Woman, stomp through a wrinkled floor, symbolizing the glass being shattered, and that the ceiling is now the floor.
Pastor Rodrick Echols said the Neighborhood Congregational Church has been a longstanding venue for creative expression.
“For the folks who are in disagreement with our decision to embrace Allyson’s work, I would invite them to be in conversation with us and others about different perspectives and viewpoints and ways of seeing the world,” Echols said. “Because we don’t believe that we have a license on ultimate truth around here. What we do believe is that the more we listen and we do our best to be for each other and not against each other, we will truly build a better world.”
Additional quilts produced by Allen have been hung on the walls of the church’s hall of worship, including one that pays homage to Mother Teresa.
Some of the pieces featured in “Piece-ful Protest” were created prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Allen was asked how she believes the exhibit has aged.
Allen replied that animosity expressed toward the Asian community since the pandemic was one reason the show was timely, so much so that she considered changing the name of the exhibit to “Epidemic of Violence.”
“It was one of the ugliest displays I think I’ve ever witnessed in modern government,” Allen said. “And it was amplified by the fact that anything you say or tweet … can go around the world instantly. For the leadership to be applauded and validated every time they made an ugly, nasty, racist comment about the Asian community in relation to the pandemic, it absolutely targeted the Asian community.”
The free exhibit is open to the public Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 3 p.m., through April 24 at 340 St. Ann’s Drive, Laguna Beach.
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