This lovely image was sent to me by a lovely Swedish woman named Julia who is working on a film about craftivism and DIY. If you have any projects you’d like to share with her, or have ideas on who she could contact in Europe, you can contact her here.
I love this image of Angela Davis that she sent because not only is it beautiful, but it also speaks to the many different ways that people see craftivism. In a word, it’s a celebration. A crafty one, if you will.
Lately I’ve been tooling around with the idea of craftivism for the self, a sort of activism for the self, wherein one can right themselves with creativity and work through various problems, crises, episodes, occasions, etc. etc. I’ve mentioned it over on Twitter a several times and there has been quite popular response to more exploration of healing yourself through craft. (If activism is bettering a cause that you care about, why can’t it not be about yourself? Because in order to best help those -issues and people- that you care about you have to be your best self, no?)
I’ve even wondered about what to call such a thing. Cinnamon suggested perhaps CraftEsteem on Twitter yesterday, which I thought was quite lovely? And I had an idea that I’ve talked with Carrie about regarding depression and solitary confinement in prisons, which is still in a thinky think stage. Maybe you have some good ideas on this, or are interested in hearing more, or just dig the idea that one can do a piece of work featuring Angela Davis and include it in the realm of “craftivism.”
No matter which, I’m glad you’re along with the ride with me after I’ve popped out, cleared my head, and decided about where I want to move forward. Because there are so many people championing craftivism (to name a few with craftivism in the name: Craftivist Collective, Wellington Craftivist Collective, Project Craftivism, Craftivist! AMAZING!) these days (which is mindblowingly awesome) that I needed to take some time out to think about how I can best help this little -ism move forward in the world on the Good Ship Craftivism and I’m thinking that delving more into the therapeutic, psychological, mental health side of things is where I need to go next.
Perhaps you’ll see it fit to join me and/or tell like-minded others?
Love,
Betsy
Great image. Please post it on http://www.facebook.com/freeangelafilm
Free Angela is an upcoming documentary about Angela Davis and the events that catapulted her into an international political figure.
Shola, I’m glad you like the image! the documentary about Angela Davis sounds great!
Craft for me has always been a form of therapy, so I think you are moving in a good direction, Betsy. :-). I am happy when I can mix the two – therapy and activism. They strengthen each other.
Thanks, Judith. :)
It’s been interesting taking some time out to see what really resonates with me now, vs. when I started taking about craftivism a decade ago. And, I agree that they can (and do!) strengthen the other, which makes you individually stronger, your work/passion stronger and your activism more mighty!
I don’t know if this is the kind of thing you are looking for, but I just did a post about feeling anxious before beginning a project:
http://truestitches.blogspot.ca/2012/06/jumping-in-again.html
Once I get into a piece, usually the worry fades away and the soothing, meditative stitching calms me and carries me along. I like your idea of craftivism for the self.
Ah, yes, that is a wonderful post, thanks for sharing it, Heather! I wrote a novella over there on my thoughts about it, so yes, it was apropos to link to it! And, lately, I just have been thinking about how much we shore up causes and passions and others, yet in order to do this in the strongest, most beneficial way, we need to be the strongest we can be… and sometimes we forget that…
How I love this direction. Looking forward to seeing more on it.
There’s a certain amount of getting out my head when I create something, whether it involves craft, singing, writing, etc. Sometimes when I come back to the thoughts (or in my case – extreme rumination), the cobwebs are gone and I feel I can breathe again. It’s been happening a lot, lately, but so have the “thoughts.” It’s just one way I’ve been able to sift through.
Thanks for your interest and thoughts, Missy! And as for rumination, I think I could have a MA in it, if not a PhD!! “Cobwebs” is a great word for it, it’s like the thoughts appear out of nowhere like a cobweb over night and they just get stuck to you if you try to tear them down. I hate how sometimes once you’ve worked through them, you wake up the next morning and it’s Cobweb City!! No fun!
Fine Cell Work do amazing needlework with prisoners.
http://www.finecellwork.co.uk/