Beehive Collective (of Craftivists!)

Miami University was fortunate enough to have the brilliant Beehive Design Collective present its work as part of Green Oxford's Coal Week (a week aimed at raising awareness of our campus' dependence on coal). The Bees work on projects that translate complex information into intricate images. They produce murals and graphics on divisive issues, such as Plan Colombia, Free Trade policies, biotechnology, and (the one that I saw) the True Cost of Coal.
Two of the craftivists from the Collective explained the devastating effects of mountaintop removal in Appalachia and helped a roomful of students decipher the massive mural they have drawn depicting the region before and after coal removal.

The large scale of the project is meant to represent the huge collection of stories the Bees have heard. As the artists add images to the scenes, they check with those who have shared their stories to make sure the work represents their histories.

Brrrrr...my car antenna looks chilly!

I've been crafting some sneaky acts of kindness and fun for the past few weeks. Using an idea from Making Stuff: An Alternative Craft Book, I decided to knit up several antenna covers using bits of scrap and some color-changing (strangely not in neon colors, but beautiful primaries!) yarn. I attached a message to "Share the Love" in the hopes that people warm up their parking lot neighbor's car antenna once they've tired of their moving piece of art...

On a break from writing my thesis, I donned my darkest ninja gear and launched my attach on unassuming cars in Uptown Oxford.

While I could argue for the increase in stylish accessories for car antennas everywhere, this project's really all about making people smile. In the process I hope people will come to Craftivista and learn about meaningful crafty happenings.

Feel free to comment if you've been an (un)happy victim of my tagging!

Portland's Museum of Contemporary Craft

I've been bogged down with thesis writing and editing, and most recently, a trip to Portland over spring break! Portland is a crafty place and I was psyched to check out the Museum of Contemporary Craft.

The museum focuses on interaction and dialogue about the definition of craft and what it means to craft. The exhibit at the museum now is Gestures of Resistance, which has installations and ongoing demonstrations by several craftivists that explore "the intersection of craft, performance and the politics of slowness," according to exhibit curator Namita Gupta Wiggers.

I loved recognizing the work of Cat Mazza, from microRevolt. Her Nike Blanket Petition was on display with a video about its creation. People from around the world knit 4x4 in. squares to represent their signature to petition against Nike's unethical labor practices.

 

It was also great to find the full text of an essay I had come across in abstract form while researching for my thesis chapter on craftivism. Canadian art activists Anthea Black and Nicole Burisch's "Craft Hard, Die Hard: Radical Curatorial Strategies for Craftivism in Unruly Contexts" explores craft's radical potential and says that craftivism must include participatory projects that value democratic processes, cross-disciplinary media, and commitment to politicized practices, issues and actions. It was interesting to see the authors note that craft and craftivism are outside of corporate and institutional cultures, but are being used by corporations wanting to capitalize on a trend toward the handmade aesthetic.

I wish I could have seen one of the project demonstrations, but it was still cool just to be in a place where craft is valued and appreciated. Until next time, PDX...

Crocheting Coral Reefs

A friend pointed me to TED speaker Margaret Wertheim, cofounder of the Crochet Coral Reef Project with her twin sister Christine. In 2005 the two Australian natives saw the coming together of three elements: the devastating bleaching of coral reef systems, the uncanny ability of crochet technique to create hyperbolic geometric shapes, and the power of feminine handicraft to promote environmental activism. 

From that recognition the sisters started the Institute For Figuring to explore "the aesthetic and poetic aspects of science and mathematics." The Crochet Coral Reef is the combined efforts of thousands of individual crocheted pieces, coming together to represent the beauty of the marine environment and the precarious condition of its residents. The work has been exhibited all over the world- New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Scotsdale, AZ, Latvia, Sydney, London...

Craft Crush: Gabriel Craig

Several Miami student organizations are collaborating to bring craft prophet Gabriel Craig to campus for Earth Day celebrations on April 21-22. To give you a glimpse of why I'm craft crushing, I'll reveal the name of the lecture he's giving at the art museum: "Crafting Activism in an Age of Ambivalence"...wow.

Craig's craft ranges from metalsmithing and jewelry making to installation art and performance. He often brings his studio to the streets, encouraging dialogue with passerby on the role of craft, jewelry and consumption in today's Walmart culture. Miami will host one of these days of jewelry-making on the streets! 

The Changi Quilts

In the spirit of Cleve Jones and the NAMES Project, here's another example of quilting activism...

After Singapore was captured by the Japanese in 1942, 400 women and children (as well as thousands of men) who had not escaped the city were sent to Changi Prison. The prison capacity was stretched four times its limit, but those who were not forced into labor were allowed to pursue certain activities on their own, including limited schooling and even some theater performance.

With the guidance of one Canadian woman, Ethel Mulvaney, the women decided to make three quilts to send to the British, Japanese and Austrailan Red Cross. Under the guise of providing another blanket for wounded soldiers, the quilts were then embroidered with messages to let the soldiers related to Changi prisoners know of their relative safety.

 

The women used repurposed cotton squares, from rice sacks and other discarded fabric, to embroider (with varying skill levels) names and symbolic images.

"Demand everything immediately to get something eventually."

The amazing activist Cleve Jones shared his lecture "Harvey Milk, the AIDS Quilt, and Human Rights" with Miami students and community members last night. Hands down the best lecture I've heard in my four years here...

Jones spoke after a tough weekend for many at Miami and in the greater LGBTQ community. Brendan Burke, a Miami senior, classmate, and roommate of my friend Scott, died in a car accident that killed his 18 year-old passenger, as well. Brendan leaves behind a legacy of courage: this fall he came out to ESPN as an openly gay man in the hockey world in an effort to foster a sports community that rejects homophobia. He was the manager of the Miami hockey team and his father is the General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jones offered a moving moment of remembrance for Brendan at the opening of his talk.

Jones then recounted his memories working with Harvey Milk and other gay rights activists in 1970's San Francisco. He expressed his frustration with the anonymity and invisibility of AIDS victims in its earlier years, saying that the world's homophobia and racism perpetuated the epidemic and killed tens of thousands.

Jones (left, in the leather jacket) protesting with Milk (right).