Crafting Change: Handmade Activism, Past and Present

by Jessica Vitkus

Overview

An informative and inspiring exploration of craftivism — the intersection of handicraft and activism — designed to encourage young creators while providing meaningful historical context.

You don’t have to be old enough to vote to drive political change.

In Crafting Change, author, TV producer, and craftivist Jessica Vitkus explores the rich lineage of craftivism, with profiles of craftivisit icons, many of whom are women and people of color. This YA non-fiction book shines a light on artist-driven projects like This Is Not a Gun – workshops where people sculpt objects the police have mistaken for a gun in fatal shootings -- alongside creative movements that mobilized entire communities, like the AIDS Memorial Quilt and the Pussyhat project for the 2017 Women’s March. This engaging narrative combines compelling artist interviews with full-color photos of creators and crafts alike.

A perfect book for teens who want to channel their creativity into political action, with ideas for simple projects sure to appeal to budding craftivists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780374313333
Publisher:	Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date:	10/18/2022
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	140 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Jessica Vitkus is a writer and television producer living in New York City. She has written craft stories and developed craft projects for Martha Stewart magazines and television, and has worked as a writer/producer for MTV News, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Table of Contents

Introduction viii

Embroidery

Chapter 1 Being Blount (2017-present) 2

Chapter 2 Badass Cross Stitch (2013-present) 12

Knitting

Chapter 3 Knitting for Soldiers During WWI and WWII (1914-1945) 24

Chapter 4 Pussyhat Project (2016-present) 38

Sculpting and Building

Chapter 5 Earthships (1971-present) 54

Chapter 6 Border Cantos (2014-present) 64

Chapter 7 This Is Not a Gun (2016-present) 74

Quilting

Chapter 8 Quilts and Anti-Slavery Bazaars (1830s-1850s) 88

Chapter 9 AIDS Memorial Quilt (1987-present) 102

Chapter 10 Social Justice Sewing Academy (2017-present) 116

Beyond Basic Crafts

Chapter 11 Baking: The Sweet Feminist (2018-present) 130

Chapter 12 Photography: Los Fotos Project (2010-present) 138

Chapter 13 Street Art: SacSix (2015-present) 146

Chapter 14 Zines: Be Seen Project (2020-preesnt) 152

Chapter 15 Craftivist You: The Constitution of Crafts 160

Project How-Tos

Project 1 Human Billboard (Embroidery) 169

Project 2 Spell-It-Out Bracelets (Breading) 174

Project 3 Say It and Spray It (Stenciling) 182

Crafting Change from Here On: Now What? 189

Acknowledgments 192

Image Credits 193

About the Author 194

Editorial Reviews

"Vitkus [writes] in a direct, conversational style that speaks to, not at, teen readers. Emphasizing enjoyment and process over professional products, she concludes with helpful tips and easy-to-start projects. ... Fascinating, thought provoking, and inspiring." —Booklist, starred review

"Reading the interview excerpts with craftivists, such as Black Girl Magic Portraits creator Melissa Blount, Pussyhat Project creators Jayna Zweiman and Krista Suh, and organizations like the Be Seen Project, will give any craftivist or crafting club lots of steam. ... Expertly organized to document the psychological benefits and historical and contemporary ways crafting brings communities together in action." —School Library Journal, starred review

"Profiling a variety of makers, craftspeople who use their creations to get their messages out, this bright, well-illustrated book encourages readers to try their hands at craftivism... The subjects are broadly diverse, and their passions connect to a range of social issues, so most readers will both feel included and learn something new... Expansive, inclusive, and motivating." —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

★ 01/01/2023

Gr 6 Up—The 2016 Women's March tipped off "a new wave of appreciation for handicrafts and women's work." Here, meet some of the artivists who revived a sense of community while raising awareness around issues, such as Black Lives Matter, climate crisis, and gender inequality, via handiwork. Vitkus who recounts her own history as an artivist, organizes the book by types of handiwork, from embroidery to quilting to knitting to a catch-all chapter that includes using stencils, cake decoration, beading, graffiti, wheatpasting, and zine-making. Each chapter offers historical context and project ideas. While many of these crafts are designed simply to embellish and "decorate," artivists use them to change consciousness, create human billboards, and design timely messaging via aerial photography, graffiti, flyering, or social media. Reading the interview excerpts with craftivists, such as Black Girl Magic Portraits creator Melissa Blount, Pussyhat Project creators Jayna Zweiman and Krista Suh, and organizations like the Be Seen Project, will give any craftivist or crafting club lots of steam and concrete ways to connect with a wider community. Doing handiwork together, sew-ins, quilting circles, and knitting clubs, is age-old and gives a source of joy and purpose in times of crisis, provides anger management, and as Shannon Downey describes it, even presents a way out of phone addiction. VERDICT An excellent purchase for all libraries, expertly organized to document the psychological benefits and historical and contemporary ways crafting brings communities together in action.—Sara Lissa Paulson

School Library Journal

2022-08-17
An overview of using crafts as a form of political activism.

Profiling a variety of makers, craftspeople who use their creations to get their messages out, this bright, well-illustrated book encourages readers to try their hands at craftivism. A variety of pursuits are showcased—baking, fiber arts, and sculpting, among others—and the author interviews each creator, presenting their backstory and path to expressing themselves through crafting. The subjects are broadly diverse, and their passions connect to a range of social issues, so most readers will both feel included and learn something new. Vitkus’ upbeat narrative emphasizes that it is community and message rather than technical skill that are the important parts of craftivism. Many of the people profiled are unapologetically angry about causes including sexual assault, Black women’s history, and gun violence. The poignant story of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt begun in 1987 is heartening, giving context to craftivism’s ability to produce change, something all the craftivists profiled are working to achieve. Over 48,000 panels strong, the quilt was developed to bear witness to the often shunned victims of AIDS and lead to greater awareness and support; it raised nearly $500,000 for AIDS research in its first year alone. Brief but cogent history lessons enrich the narrative and connect present-day activists with a legacy of creative protest. A few simple projects to get readers started are included.

Expansive, inclusive, and motivating. (photo credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews