craftivism.

Because craft + activism = craftivism.

Craftivism, camp, and talks, oh my!

| Betsy

Happy to report that Craftivism: The Art of Craft and Activism is almost at the printer! Hooray! You can find out more about it over at Arsenal Pulp and pre-order it over on Amazon.

This month has been a busy one with a trip to Joshua Tree, California for Camp CARPA with the Craft Research Agency, where I met loads of other amazing artists and generally enjoyed hanging out in the desert for a week. Incredible conversations were had, crafty drone replicas were made, and a lot of stitching was done.

Next up:

I have two pieces up at the Spoken Threads craftivism show at ArtRage Gallery in Syracuse, so if you’re in the area, go have a look!

postcard-6inx8in-h-front

A talk at the V&A in London next month at the The Subversive Stitch Revisited: The Politics of Cloth conference with some fine folks on the roster with me as you can see below. I’ll be talking about craftivism in the non-English speaking world. Have an example you’d like for me to talk about? Let me know in the comments or through
email.

SSR_BOOKING INFO_ 2_

I’ll also begin working my PTSD quilt/embroidery project, too! As an extension of the post I wrote here on PTSD and relationships, it’s been retooled and rewritten for Elephant Journal, and you can go read it here.

I’ll be talking more about that particular project later, but it includes collecting statements (the exact format of which I’m still working on) from people with diagnosed PTSD and stitching them together in a quilt. The point of the project is to take statements from people who have a disorder that often leaves them alienated and feeling unworthy and put them together, showing them that they are not, in fact, alone.

Craftivism and Beautification/Yarnbombing

| Betsy

This is the 2nd part in a 3-part blog post, about what I’m calling The 3 -Tions* of Craftivism. (You can read about them here.) You can see the first part, on Craftivism and Donation here. The 2nd -tion of craftivism is beautification.

This is found in acts like yarnbombing. (And in scratching my head about this, I could only really think about yarnbombing, so you tell me, what am I missing?)

It’s taking your everyday surroundings in your own city and making them beautiful instead of barren.

However, I also think it comes with some responsibility to:

1. Not destroy property.
2. Check up on your work; make sure it is still in good shape from time to time.
3. Fix your work if it comes undone or someone messes with it.
4. Take down your work if it becomes too damaged to repair or it is looking unsightly!

Above, all, just remember the aim here is to beautify and make people look differently at old surroundings. A few examples:

domus
(Photo by Flickr user casaciendias)

Knit graffiti in Sussex Lane by Magda Sayeg
(Photo by Flickr user jam_project)

yarnbomb
(Photo by Flickr user 81740669@N04)

spinsandneedles
(Photo by Flickr user spinsandneedles)

supportlibraries
(Photo by Flickr user cynthiaparkhill)

kebabette
(Photo by Flickr user kebabette)

vandalog
(Photo by Flickr user vandalog)

There are hundreds more photos of yarnbombing to peruse over at Flickr here.

And while I was looking for photos, I came across this one:

staycurly
(Photo by Flickr user staycurly)

And it has me wonder if this was true. (What are your thoughts?) I think in some cases this can be true, as yarnbombing can be fluffy and full of good-natured hijinks like chick flick movies. But, should it be more? Should there be more that is strictly political to give yarnbombing more weight? Or is it lightness just enough to get people interested in their surroundings again, which is political enough?

*ETA: Spring 2015, I switched the “-tions” to “tenets.”

Craftivism 101

| Betsy

The only limitations I actually have regarding craftivism are related to profit: a) please don’t use “craft + activism = craftivism” on anything that you sell and b) please don’t use the term craftivism as a buzz word to make money. Everything else? Pretty much above board.

That being said, I want to say the following things, a sort of Craftivism 101, if you will:

* Craftivism is, in a way, open source per se, you don’t have to join a group or follow a group’s mantra/purpose/goal. (You can if you want, of course, but you don’t have to!) You can be a craftivist by yourself or with a friend or start your own group.


* Instead of putting your frustrations in how you’re not being a craftivist, put that energy into how you can be one. There are injustices everywhere, illnesses to help spread the word on, causes to promote, and a million and one things to protest.


* In short, stop asking and start making. I say this as a former whiner who asked, “How can I be like you?” to a bajillion different people when I first started out, to the point that my dignity was fairly (and probably) compromised. But things only started looking up when I shut up, started listening to my own voice, and got to making.


* Craftivism is about creating to make the world a better place.


* Through either mindful(l) responsible donation of items that they have made, targeted ethical beautification and/or kind-minded and hopeful notification, what craftivists make is a badge to their belief that there is power in the handmade, that what their hands make has strength, and that through their creations, they can/will open a space for dialogue.


* Through a seemingly simple act of making, craftivists can bring about change in the world, be it tiny or tremendous.


* Craftivists’ hands are their strength and their work is their voice and through them, craftivists help open the minds of others, giving them the permission and acceptance to create.


* In short, craftivists’ act of making becomes the change they wish to see in the world, it slowly (but surely) spreads the world that we, as individuals, still have the power to change things. It may be tiny change, but that tiny change could very well be the ripple that leads to even bigger change(s), bigger than you may even be able to believe.

Craftivism and Donation

| Betsy

The other week I mentioned writing about the 3 –tions* of 1 –ism, the donation, beautification and notification. I’ve been thinking about donation a lot lately, as I’ve been a baby-hat-making-factory-of-one lately, as you can see in the photo below.

Therefore, I’m going to tackle the first -tion, donation. Initially, this was what craftivism was to me. Making and giving to others in need. Over time, what craftivism is has expanded, becoming more of an umbrella term. But, at the beginning, there was donation.

donation

This is the quietest, most anonymous form of craftivism, as it’s something that you can do by making something at home and then dropping off what you made at a local hospital or charity or popping in the mail to one. Unlike the others actions, this one is quiet on purpose. There is no need to attach your name to it or your style even, it is a powerful act nonetheless, making for others.

One of the most important aspects of this action is not in the making itself, but in the planning to make. It’s to be mindful that you’re donating 1) where there is a need and 2) you’re donating what they’re asking for or at least something suitable for that need. I.e., what good is knitting something for the homeless if the item is made of yarn in a color that shows dirt easily or a design that’s likely to catch on things and stretch out? Or crocheting regular-sized infant hats for a charity that works with preemies? Or sewing mats for dogs out of a fabric that is handwash only?

Sometimes when charities request donations they will give guidelines on 1) exactly what they need, 2) how they need it to be labeled, and 3) what they need it to be made of. Sometimes they don’t, which may mean that before you donate, you call the organization and ask 1) if they’re taking donations and 2) what exactly form they need to be delivered in/mailed.

Crafters are a helpful lot and the minute any disaster happens, an inevitable effort starts up to help them. Most of the time, these efforts are done well and mindful of what the community needs and it goes off without a hitch. However, sometimes people are so interested in helping others that they start initiatives for causes that already have too many quilts, blankets, hats, etc. This can be quickly amended by asking first.

The efforts out there that people are making to fill gaps where needed is amazing! Chances are great that there is a charity somewhere that can benefit from what you like to make. It just may take a web search on where this charity is and how it can be reached and even a little retooling of what you make (adjustments to size, materials, etc.)

Ever make something that looks funny when you put it on? And you don’t have the heart to throw it out? This is not an excuse to give it to charity. With the exception of perhaps mats for dogs, the items that you donated may very well be cherished by their owners and something of value and pride. Therein, make sure that the work you put into the item is the same amount of work that you would put into making a garment for a loved one.

1. Donate what’s need to where it’s needed.

2. If your charity of choice doesn’t take what you’ve made/want to make, get to Googling, there’s always someone in need of your talents!

3. Donation does not equal cast offs. Just because you’re donating to a cause where your donation may be anonymous does not mean that quality should suffer.

*ETA: Spring 2015: I’ve switched from “-tions” to “tenets!”