Yarnbombing, Radical Fiber Art, and Birdie Sanders: The Socialist History and Visual Language of Craft Activism
- ISBN-10
- 0355460807
- ISBN-13
- 9780355460803
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2017
- Author
- Corrie Hendricks
Description
Craftivism, or craft activism, can be defined as the production of protest art with an explicitly handcrafted aesthetic. This nebulous movement was born at the turn of the twenty-first century and has produced a distinct visual language expressive of self-sufficiency, social equality, and communal wellbeing. Interestingly, the relationship between craft and socio-political concerns is long-established. Due to the hierarchal positioning of “craft” below the “fine arts”, issues of social and economic equality have been inherently tied to craft and textile production. Most significantly, a moral aesthetic has come to be associated with the handmade. This aesthetic has been a central component of several significant social movements including the Arts & Crafts movement of nineteenth century England, the Swadeshi revolution of India, and the early twentieth century campaign for women’s suffrage. By examining craftivism as the culmination of a long history of crafting for political purpose, I suggest that this contemporary movement has created a powerful visual language expressive of a moral aesthetic associated with equality and socialist ideals.
