-The following show was on BBC2 and was very helpful to collate ideas and look at different forms of craftivism.
-It was hosted by Jenny Eclair and looked at both current craftivists plus historical links to how it has been influenced
-The sections about how the maker also receives a good dopamine feeling as well as the receiver was very interesting, it goes back to other research (JRF, Betsy Greer) about the positives for both making and giving kindness out into the world.
-Also the historical references to Ghandi, the suffragettes and Wedgewood are very important and good research points.
-In my work it would be good to further explore quietly changing people's minds
-Prints could be given out, with a hashtag to see where they end up and what influence they make
-Craft packs given out, including a postcard to write thoughts whilst making reflecting Roses work below.
- I still have an issue with the word craft as I feel it may put people off who don't think they are creative and it reflects the issues in printmaking where it is sometimes seen as lower in the hierarchical scale of art and design
Intro
-We are used to seeing mass gatherings of protestors and people using their voices.
-There is a feeling of emboldenment by being a voice in the crowd.
-But there is a quieter form of protest emerging that is more gentle but as effective as shouting, craftivism.
-An example of this is shown through the women's marches in which the protestors wore pussy hats. These were handmade hats with pussy ears in bright pink.
-Time was taken to make them.
-Pink was chosen ironically as a colour.
-It was a powerful gesture to show that women have rights
Deadly Knitshade
Lauren O"Farrell
-Craft helped Lauren with mental health and after having blood cancer.
- Its a serious business to make a change in the world.
-Lauren uses yarnstorming, made to brighten someone's day and make them stop and think about the message.
-After a little while when I realised people were listening to my voice I realised there was some kind of responsibility to say something thats valid and might make people think a little bit differently.
-For the occupy London marches, outside St Paul's. Lauren made a little knitted mouse, holding a sign saying down with fat cats. The mouse who was cute and that had a sense of humour felt comical and didn't feel like protest getting around the idea a different way.
Sarah Corbett
Craftivist Collective
-Sarah got into craftivism after being a burnt out activist.
-Not finding protesting in marches etc effective anymore, finding it was sometimes a way of demonising people, being violent or using the protest idea to do illegal activities.
-Sarah was doubting activism and on a journey to a meeting for work had bought a Cross stitch kit.
-She wanted to use her hands and wanted something to do that wasn't too scary and over complicated.
-The word craftivism was created by American Betty Greer in 2003, in response to hearing people using craft to discuss change.
-Sarah's approach is to use it as gentle protest.
-In reflection of Indian civil rights activist and leader Ghandi who used non violent campaigns to protest against British rule.
-He used gentle protests against the use of British cotton and promote the use of homemade cloth.
-Sarah displays her mini protest cross stitches at Eye level.
_She says they are hard to give away but to remember it's for the cause not for the love of craft. -You can take a picture of it, share on social media etc to keep it that way as a memory and to also promote using hashtags and links to information.
-Sarah does workshops to share the skills and to make people think whist making something.
-In collaboration with the girl guides, there is now a craftivism badge.
- Sarah was part of a campaign in which they gave handkerchiefs to M&S to help campaign to give staff the living wage. It was a positive protest in which the chair said it was the most powerful campaign they had encountered and then went on to give their 50,000 staff the living wage.
-Most activism is a surprise as its a march, a stunt, a milkshake been thrown at someone but that's a bad surprise if you give a good surprise, a gift that is bespoke to the person and taken hours to make it is creating dopamine in the receiver. But also as well as giving dopamine to the receiver it also creates this in the maker and giver.
Images can go onto social media and can link to the causes and further information.
-Its not about you, about the cause and message make sure you're not prolific in the message.
-Craftivsim is the catalyst not the conclusion.
Helen Baker
We Are All Smear Ready
Helen is a graphic designer turned craftivist.
She makes tiny knickers to promote women getting a smear.
-100s pairs of miniature knickers, focus of the pants is to be eye-catching and drop their (made) pants in public to share them and the attached info.
-The information is very important for Helen in her project to push forward the information needed
History
-Over 100 years ago we had suffragettes who were well known for radical activism but also craftivism in their way.
-They used the media of their time, newspapers and newly developed film, to show their beautiful intricate eye-catching banners.
-Josiah Wedgwood in the 18th century used ceramics to create a brooch which was given away for free to promote raise awareness for the campaign to abolish the slave trade.
Rose Sinclair
Dorcas Stories
-Rose creates front room spaces with Caribbean music and food to make and create in.
-The participants create small weaving looms which take about 15minutes.
-The idea is that they relax in the space and see the space as a home.
-Many conversations in this relaxed environment come around to the Windrush scandal and the space is used as a safe space to speak about these stories.
-Dorcas clubs are popular in the Caribbean and the workshops raise money for the things they have made for people back home and for the local community.
-The word Dorcas comes from the bible and from a woman who would make cloth and would take women who were destitute to show them how to make cloth so they could then fend for themselves.
-Rose encourages conversations through the workshops and records these on postcards remembering loved ones and struggles.
Hombres Tejedores, Chile
-Women are seen as the ones who knit
The group change this and show a traditionally seen womens craft by men.
-Knitting by men with mens issues.
Shows the deconstruction of the masculine figure by doing something feminine.
-The first intervention was done in financial district and wanted to be in strong masculine suits and to then pull out the knitting in feminine pink.
-There were big protests in Chile around low wages and many people had eye injuries or lost sight.
-People covered an eye or painted eyes around the city and it became a sign of solidarity.
-The hombres crocheted eyes on their pieces.
Peter Carney
Liverpool banners.
-Peter states he goes to a game to participate not just to watch the match.
-The banner (above) is saying that the fans make the game, "Fans are the F in football".
-Kind of a tribal thing, in that the banners are saying who you are.
-They represent who you are and community you are with.
-Peter made a banner for Sean Cox, a fan attacked by roma supporters during a match to raise funds for his recovery.
-You can make a banner to show empathy and the banner makes a rallying call to make the support tangible.
-Peter was at the Hillsborough disaster. He made a banner for the victims of Hillsborough which was used at the memorial service and then a new one was made for its 20th anniversary, adding all the names of the victims.
-They became a direct call to action and became a symbol of those who were affected.
-They created accountability and made sure the victims were not forgotten.
-Peters banners have been seen during lockdown with his banners covering the Kop during the matches.
-The banners try to represent the missing fans during the time of the pandemic.
Reflections
-Craftivism is about selflessness.
-An antidote to pressures people are under.
-You are allowed to do and say what you want with craftivism.
-You give away a little piece of you and people gain from that little giveaway.
-Its serious business to make make change in the world but it can be a positive fun thing to try and make a small difference.
Are there 2 types of craftivism? Direct action and then a piece that raises awareness?
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