Christopher Dudley

Christopher Dudley based this quilt off an infographic about government benefits in The New York Times on February 12, 2012.

The United States map illustrates areas (based on a state’s counties) that rely or don’t rely on government benefits.

Dudley found it saddening that the U.S., supposedly the richest nation of the world, has such disparity between rich and poor and that social programs for helping people in need are viewed so divisively. He turned to quilting to convey his dismay.

Detail from Dudley’s inspiration. Visit The New York Times online to read the piece, “Even Critics of Safety Net Increasingly Depend on It” — Detail from Dudley’s inspiration. Visit *The New York Times* online to read the piece, “Even Critics of Safety Net Increasingly Depend on It”

In Gov’t Benefit, the quilt represents parts of Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana. The colors gradate from least dependent (dark off-white) to most dependent (dark red). Dudley’s quilt not only addresses the current amount of people relying on government benefits but is a somber reminder of the ongoing need in the U.S.

“Continuing a long history of quilts as conveyors of hidden information, Dudley’s quilt is an interpretation of an infographic about wealth disparities in the U.S. in 2012. These disparities have continued into 2020 and have been laid bare by the economics of the pandemic.”
- **Ayumi Horie**, *Untitled* juror

EXPLORE MORE ARTWORKS FROM UNTITLED, 2020

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Christopher Dudley

Christopher Dudley based this quilt off an infographic about government benefits in The New York Times on February 12, 2012. The United States map illustrates areas (based on a state’s counties) that rely or don’t rely on government benefits. Dudley found it saddening that the U.S., supposedly the richest nation of the world, has such disparity between rich and poor and that social programs for helping people in need are viewed so divisively. He turned to quilting to convey his dismay.

Rosamond Gross

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Gregory Jamie

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ARRT! (Artists’ Rapid Response Team!)

Artists’ Rapid Response Team! (also known as ARRT!) is a collective of year-round members of the Union of Maine Visual Artists (UMVA). UMVA is dedicated to upholding the dignity of artists, while creating positive social change through the arts.

Graeme KennedyJanuary 29, 2021untitled artists

Christopher Dudley