counter craft

nickeyrobo: Minneapolis May Day! Somewhere half way between a...

Mon, 06 May 2013 08:46:31 -0400

Elle and I

The ceremony at the end of the parade, on Powderhorn lake.

Black Label's half-pipe cage float. Amazing.

The full bike punk float thing. The front pulls the other three sections. They were roasting a goat in the center of it.

The beautiful old moose.

KetzalCoatlicue, the Aztec dancers who were in front of our section. I was blown away by their beautiful outfits.

We had two grandparents in golden thrones at the front of our section. Unfortunately only of the thrones only made it a block!

nickeyrobo:

Minneapolis May Day! Somewhere half way between a spring holiday and a radical workers’ day.

It was a truly magical day.

austinkleon: Andrea Dezsö’s Embroidered “Lessons From My...

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 11:59:40 -0500

austinkleon:

Andrea Dezsö’s Embroidered “Lessons From My Mother”

I met Andrea in San Diego last year and was immediately floored by her work. (Also, being 1/4 Romanian but still knowing almost nothing about Romania, I’m always fascinated by Romanian artists.)

NYTimes:

From afar, the stitching and calming colors looked like the work of a doting grandmother, but up close there were images of vaginas, fetuses and a study of the myths that mothers told their daughters in Transylvania, Romania, where Ms. Dezsö, 39, was raised…

Working in the city has provided fodder for many of her ideas and for her embroidery series, which she stitched while traveling throughout the city. A woman stitching in public is viewed differently in different neighborhoods, Ms. Dezsö found.

“If I’m in Queens, people think I’m a traditional woman,” Ms. Dezsö said. “If I’m in Manhattan, it’s the hippest thing.”

See more of Andrea’s work here.

600 Monsters For Connecticut

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 09:57:09 -0500

via Huffington Post:

Published 12/18/12

Using the popular knitting site, Ravelry, they started the group “600 Monsters Strong For Connecticut” dedicated to making stuffed animals to send to every student at the school, according to the group’s Facebook page.

So far the group has just more than 1,100 members [now 2,233], and many have been posting photos of their monster creations on one of the group’s threads. There are a set of guidelines the knitters must follow when it comes to stitch pattern and materials used — but there’s no limit to the level of creativity.

“This is Francis,” Ravelry user myriadflowers posted on a thread showing a picture of her monster that is grey with hints of turquoise. “I picked the name Francis because it’s my dad’s middle name, and this set of muted colours reminds me of him and the sense of assurance and strength he has always given me.”

From the 600 Monsters Strong Facebook Group:

Posted 12/31/12

One of the reasons we’re happy to see them arrive is that we’re starting our work with other organizations to help out kids affected by gun violence. I’m sure you all saw the sad story of the firefighters shot in Rochester, NY recently. At least one of them had small children. We’re in the process of getting some contact information for the families so we can coordinate a monster delivery to those kids. Having monsters on hand will make that so much easier and faster! It means our work can really begin, and the reason for that is because you all hav been so incredibly generous in your monster making. We never dreamed we’d be able to help more than just the kids in Newtown.

We are still on call for Newtown, though, so please don’t think we’re collecting these monsters under that guise, then passing them on to other people. The town is still recovering from the media circus, the funerals and probably dealing with a very, very hard holiday. Our contacts there are still sending positive messages, but we are respecting their privacy, as we will do for ALL the families we work with. We’re hoping to get in touch and start coordinating the delivery process after the new year.

Thank you all so, so much for helping us out, and for helping these kids. Know that every monster you send will go to a good home and help a child know there are good people out there.

In the Colour Box Studio alley way as part of Footscray on the...

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 09:36:41 -0500

In the Colour Box Studio alley way as part of Footscray on the Edge.

Photo

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:39:14 -0500

earth-defender: I am so very proud to call some of these...

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:11:42 -0400

earth-defender:

I am so very proud to call some of these amazing people friends and I just wish I could have been there to help on the day. Im definitely going to visit the garden next time we’re in the hills though.

Despite overwhelming protest from the community of Tecoma against a 24 hour McDonalds being built it is still planned to go ahead.
So yesterday they planted a community garden on the proposed site, and sent a clear message to the coporation that they are not welcome in the dandenongs!

Seriously amazing stuff.

Dont be fooled into thinking you are powerless as to what goes on in your community. Take the power back.

Yarnbomber Ishknits in Philadelphia

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:53:16 -0400

Yarnbomber Ishknits in Philadelphia

deconstructioncrafts: staceythinx: Cells by Laura Katherine...

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 22:15:59 -0400

deconstructioncrafts:

staceythinx:

Cells by Laura Katherine McMillan

McMillan on her project:

I began this series of embroideries as a way to fuse my background studies in anatomy and kinesiology with my passion for textile art. Revisiting old text books brought back not just information I would have to memorize for its function but a wealth of beautiful imagery. I began to see the cells as a series of intricate textures and shapes.

Creating this series made me think about how our view of something as merely functional can overshadow its inherent beauty.

Foreclosure Quilts - Kathryn Clark

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:26:08 -0400

via Kathryn Clark’s website:

“My previous work as an urban planner made me acutely aware of how big an impact the foreclosure crisis would have on our cities and towns throughout the United States. However, very little was mentioned in the news.

It was important to me to present the whole story in a way that would captivate people’s attention and make a memorable statement. Making map quilts seemed an ironic solution. Quilts act as a functional memory, an historical record of difficult times. It is during times of hardship that people have traditionally made quilts, often resorting to scraps of cloth when so poor they could not afford to waste a single thread of fabric.

The neighborhoods shown are not an anomaly; they are a recurring pattern seen from coast to coast, urban to suburban neighborhoods across the US. The problem has not been solved, it is still occurring, just changing shape, affecting more of us.”

For more information read her blog post about the series and an article from The Atlantic.

Kathryn Clark worked as an architectural and urban designer for seven years before becoming a full time artist in 2005. A traditional painter and photographer for twenty years, her studio slowly became full of remnants of yarn, wire and stacks of linen and burlap. One day, she put the paints and paintbrushes away, pulled out the fabrics and began sewing and layering thread.

Kathryn’s work revolves around the wabi-sabi principles of simplicity and awareness of time. Sewing and weaving express the time and effort it takes to create each piece while emphasizing the simplicity of needle and thread. She also writes a blog to inspire and inform other artists who work in the unique genre called Articraft: artists who use craft in their work and craftspeople who make art: www.kathrynclark.blogspot.com

Agustina Woodgate is an Argentinian-born artist now residing in...

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:26:51 -0400

Agustina Woodgate is an Argentinian-born artist now residing in Miami, FL. For the O, Miami poetry festival Woodgate “poetry bombed” thrift stores by sewing poems into the clothes. I found this to be a lighter take on shop dropping. Both the “traditional” form of shop dropping and Woodgate’s poetry bombing create an unexpected moment for the finder. However, instead of commenting on capitalism and/or production Woodgate’s mission is to displace poetry and create an unexpected and happy moment for the finder.

Knit Credit Cards

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:43:00 -0400

Artist: Dimitri Tsykalov. found at: booooooom.

projectcraftivism: Picture from nctimes.com Terrilyn Quick is...

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:38:06 -0400

projectcraftivism:

Picture from nctimes.com

Terrilyn Quick is speaking up for women and bringing awareness of women’s health issues. She has displayed uteruses embroidered by women all over in museums to do just that. You can get involved as she is asking people from all over to participate and she will send you a pack. You can look for her on Facebook or visit her Uterus Project Blog, here.

“It’s the room we all came from,” she said about the uterus. “Everybody’s connected to it somehow, so everybody somehow has a story to tell…” Read more, here.

Get involved and/or spread the word…

themindmashup: ORLY COGAN “Orly Cogan’s work ranges from...

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:26:52 -0400

themindmashup:

ORLY COGAN

“Orly Cogan’s work ranges from two-dimensional wall pieces to installations and photography, exploring the conventions of femininity through stitching into vintage fabrics. Her pieces are like pages of a sketchbook full of drawings which Cogan explores through more contrived compositions verging on fantasy. Embroidered female forms interact with each other and discreet objects, exploring feminine archetypes such as the Madonna/whore, the femme fatale and the beauty queen. Cogan plays with feminine sexuality and perspective, allegorical and abject in her narrative.”

(taken from ‘Contemporary Textiles’, black dog publishing)

"American mass culture had gotten so far away from prizing personal ingenuity that mainstream media..."

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:14:09 -0400

“American mass culture had gotten so far away from prizing personal ingenuity that mainstream media acknowledgement, in the form of endless features on the so-called DIY movement, was required to bring back a sense that individuals could have influence on their own surroundings. A Martha Stewart Show. A magazine about dumpster diving. Crafting, repurposing, reclying- whatever you call it, it was rarely presented as a means of going about a life. It was an aesthetic. You subscribed to the magazine, bought the tools, watched the show. You did not turn your television on its back, smash the screen, and us it as a planter. The website Etsy took off, craft fairs, boutique shops. You could buy anything you wanted from locally made craftspeople instead of big-box stores. The DIY movement was primarily a way to accessorize, a brand new way to consume.”

- Anne Elizabeth Moore, from Cambodian Grrrl (via nickeyrobo)

Snow Fooling by Meg Swanson Threads magazine, issue #39,...

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:52:32 -0400

Snow Fooling by Meg Swanson
Threads magazine, issue #39, p.78
found on: www.craftstylish.com

Research Survey - Update

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:27:25 -0400

The research survey is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated! And thank you to all of the Tumblr folks who reblogged and Twitter users who retweeted! You helped me surpass my goal of 100 participants. I hope to post the results soon. You can still go to this link if you want to comment about your thoughts on the survey.

Erin M Riley In an October 27th, 2011 post on Amusing Yarns, the...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:37:57 -0400

Erin M Riley
In an October 27th, 2011 post on Amusing Yarns, the blogger writes about Erin’s work:
“Riley’s tapestries, in a modern-day twist of this theme, depict young women offering sexual imagery of themselves, but unlike Philomela, who sacrifices what is left of her modesty to tell the tale of her suffering with the view of getting justice, the young women in Riley’s tapestries appear to have sacrificed their modesty without any coercion and with very little care for the potential fallout. In some ways, I see Riley’s hand-woven tapestries as a proxy for these girls, giving voice to an unconscious victim. Riley weaves her sorrow, her rage, and her accusation into the work and perhaps she directs her response to both the young women who blindly participate in their own objectification and the male-centric culture which encourages them. The work is simultaneously sad and funny, protective and accusatory. In short, Riley’s tapestries reveal that uncomfortable disconnect between the feminine and female sexuality, forcing the viewer to consider the validity of such notions.”
For more information on Erin’s work in her own words, check out the article at mr x stitch

Research Survey - Please Participate!

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:33:37 -0400

Do you consider yourself a crafter? For one of my classes I had to design an online survey. This research survey will also help my master’s thesis research. If you consider yourself a crafter please participate! Thank you for your help! (AND it’s only 10 questions.)

Please reblog!
Thanks

Knitting Rebellion - Syria

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 21:52:46 -0400

‘Knitting a revolution, one stitch at a time’ This...

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 21:28:20 -0400

‘Knitting a revolution, one stitch at a time’

This is an incredible example of craftivism. Originally distributed by Reuters on March 3, 2012, this video shows a group of Syrian rebels crafting their own rebel flags and uniforms in resistance to the Assad regime. Here we see craft as a tool of resistance and as a tool of empowerment.

text transcript via jpost.com:

Activists defy the Syrian government by making banners, placards and uniforms to support anti-government rebels.

Activists in a village near Homs are helping Syrian rebels by sewing military uniforms and rebel flags.

Some have faced their own losses during protests against President Bashar Assad.

“My brother is injured and I will keep on working and participate in the protests and with the Free Syrian Army to get rid of this corrupt regime, and we will not fall back and will not kneel or surrender,” says one woman.

They are left with few choices.

“We expect that they will bomb us anytime and will destroy our houses, but we are not frightened and will not leave our houses, because we have no where else to go to,” another woman adds.

They fear once Assad’s forces clear rebel strongholds in Homs they will be next. One soldier from the opposition Free Syria army offers assurances.

A Free Syria Army soldier says, “Homs will not fall, as long as there is a soul and a drop of blood in it, we will continue fighting, we will stay in our path until we get rid of the regime.”

The UN says Syrian forces have killed more than 7,500 civilians since the uprising began last March.