Craftivism

April 21, 2014
Not a book of instruction but of inspiration, Greer’s follow-up to Knitting for Good is a compelling survey of the global, little-known world of crafting as activism. She’s organized the anthology so it moves “from the personal to the political” beginning with one Australian woman’s practice of “guerrilla kindness” by leaving little handmade prop cupcakes for strangers to find. By the end of the book, readers will meet Catherine West, whose U.K.-based Significant Seams “undertakes craftivist acts on issues important to our own community” of urban London; Carrie Reichardt, who makes amazing mosaic pieces on buildings in the U.K.; L.J. Roberts’s reflections on craft and queer theory; and Varvara Guljajeva and Mar Canet, who work together in Spain on text-based knitting machine projects. If this all sounds a little academic, it is a bit, and the book suffers somewhat from a sense of repetition in the author-penned pieces, which tend to make the same points about combining craft and activism. That said, the photos and interviews are astounding and powerfully inspiring. It’ll be hard not to want to knit a cupcake to leave on a nearby park bench—or think about the political ramifications of recycling craft materials after reading this book. Full-color photos.

June 1, 2014

Craftivism is a term that Greer (Knitting for Good!) coined to describe the intersection of handmade items and political activism. The current craft/DIY renaissance has its roots in contemporary feminism and the reclaiming of "women's work," and Greer explores this idea in detail through essays by and interviews with activists who have combined their passion for craft with their political ideals. "Craft" is defined broadly and the examples presented range from fine-art style work, such as Inga Hamilton's environmental sculpture and Carrie Reichardt's giant-size political mosaics to Kim Werker's intentionally ugly handicrafts and Maria Molteni's NCAA Net Works, which places handmade nets on basketball hoops in public places. Greer includes activists from a variety of cultures and countries and there's a wide range of statements on topics such as urban blight, the environmental impact of automobile traffic in Brazil, and women's health. Each segment is accompanied by a variety of colored photographs showing the craftivist's work in context. VERDICT Socially conscious crafters who enjoy the efforts of Faythe Levine (coauthor, Handmade Nation) and Leanne Prain (coauthor, Hoopla: The Art of Unexpected Embroidery) will be inspired by these activists' thought-provoking work.

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