Quaker Aesthetics

by Leesa Whitson

From what I gleaned from Quaker Aesthetics, I thought I’d do OK moderating my tastes. But as I stood in the craft store button aisle, I realized I was fooling myself.

Oh, I might have been prim and proper on the outside, but I bet my petticoats would have been embroidered and maybe even —gasp! — colored. And my button box would not have contained black and gray only. Shiny metal buttons would have graced along with the bone and carved ivory ones of the time.

Clearly I’d have flunked the propriety standards leading to any number of eldering visits, clearness committees and probably, alas, harsher punishments.

The Bad Girl of the Meeting. That would be me. I’d would sneak out to view any spectacles that came through town or resided in the cities. Museums would draw me like a lodestone. Fiction would be stuffed under my mattress or stashed in the chicken coop. In short, this cheetah couldn’t have changed her spots to fit the early ideals of Quakerism.

Where would that leave the folks like me? Sitting and reading novels in the crotch of a distant tree, I guess.

My belief is that the answer lies in our history of Quaker change and/or dissension. We’d struggle with our creative, artistic demons on the quiet, or we’d have left the Meetings, shamed our families and friends, creating breaches that wouldn’t heal. I suspect often, we’d suffer in Silence.

On a positive note, the Quakers didn’t remain so restrictive. Women formally retained more equality from the beginning. In general, our society evolved in slow but steady ways. I’d like to think that I’d have been part of that change.

The evolution from Plain to Simple was one that allowed many artists to follow their leadings and use their gifts. I need to remain ever thankful that strong people came before me -- people who were sturdy enough to honor their leadings in spite of pressure.

I’d like to think 300 years ago I’d have been one of them. I wonder how much contraband you could stash in one of those bonnets?

— Leesa Whitson