The talk given by Sarah Corbett yesterday at TRAID was really engaging and inspiring. It also clarified a lot of my own thoughts and gave me a moment to reflect about what I want to achieve this year with regards to activism.
I’ve realised that aimless activism is the same as being inactive. I want to increase my self-awareness and reflect upon whether the action I am taking today is building upon the efforts of yesterday, whilst also laying the foundations for the goals of tomorrow.
Craftivism differs from other types of activism (such as joining meetings, shouting and screaming at demos or marches) because it is immensely reflective. It’s a form of slow activism which can help to change the individual as well as the world.
One of many wonderful quotes from yesterday was this: ‘Evil flourishes when good people do nothing’. This is such a wonderful quote because it puts the focus on people and the potential they have to create the change they want to see in the world, instead of feeling helpless or sitting around stewing in anger and frustration because of the structural inequalities which oppress them.
One common thread throughout the entirety of the talk was that craft should be used as a tool within the broader structures of activism (including meetings, marches, demos, petitions etc) but not as the main task master. One of the problems with the
aforementioned types of activism is that a lot of activists are introverts. Some of us are peaceful and quiet and may feel
uncomfortable joining an entirely new group of people at a meeting, speaking up, being vocal on a demo. The assumption that those who have an idea or opinion on something will be able to have the courage to vocalise it ostracises those who might may not feel comfortable giving their views in such a public space. They might have a hidden gem of an idea inside of them, but the space in which they are given to express that idea might not suit their own needs. The beauty of integrating craft with the other forms of activism is that it places people together, side by side, in a quiet, meditative, reflective state of being. For many introverts, simply being around other people is emotionally draining (as odd as that sounds). The opportunity to be physically near others, with some conversation (but more meditation!) is so beneficial for those who want to ease themselves into activism gently.
It does seem strange to connect both craft and activism together – the portmanteau ‘craftivism’ itself is almost oxymoronic. So why craft? Sarah elaborated upon these four points (I think there may have been five, but they all seemed to blend together as I was furiously scribbling notes!)
1) Slow Activism
Many other forms of activism involve what Sarah described as ‘quick transactions’, which didn’t leave any room for thoughtful reflection. A prime example of this is petitions, and sometimes signing a petition doesn’t go far enough. The repetitive motion of hand embroidery also forces the activist to slow down. It is impossible to make your body fight relentlessly – and craft is a wonderful way to take flight, momentarily, whilst still remaining calm and focused. It promotes a greater sense of self-awareness and mindfulness – you soon notice how fast and shallow your breathing may be, you can reflect upon your feelings and worries, and you will be able to physically see if your hand is shaking with anxiety and stress as you won’t be able to thread that needle in an agitated state.
Sarah noted how she had taken the choice to focus more on the craft element of activism as opposed to her other previous forms of activism, because she was concerned about her morals and ethics involved in reaching out to others. “Was I being respectful to other people?” she asked. Sometimes it’s easy to want to reach a goal so much that you almost zone out of the responses others are giving you that perhaps your actions are not as beautiful, kind and just as you would like them to be.
This attitude of mindfulness towards others should also be applied to ourselves – are we listening to what our own minds and bodies are wanting, desiring, needing, or are we trying to override symptoms of burnout because we’re striving to reach that goal? I’ve realised that slowing down can get you to where you want to be much faster than if you just run towards whatever you’re trying to do. You make less mistakes, you feel more focused and looked after, and you get stronger. The question I want to ask myself from now on is am I just doing, doing, doing – or am I being critical and reflective with each stage of my activism?
2) Quiet Activism
By its very nature, craft is an intensely quiet and peaceful activity. It promotes solitude and the soothing companionship that can only be achieved when on your own. This is the precise opposite to being on demos or meetings where there is a lot of high energy and excitement and adrenaline rushing about.
Crafting together involves being in your own space, whilst also sharing a larger space with others. You become a part of interconnected isolated spaces, as opposed to the large mass of people you can often feel like when at meetings or demos. Some people may open up much more after having sat as part of a group whilst sewing or embroidering, in ways they maybe wouldn’t have had they attended the other activist spaces and not contributed. This all relates to how comfortable they feel about expressing themselves within that space. Communal crafting provokes a slumberous feeling of sedation and calm, and it is in this reflective atmosphere that considered conversations can occur – with input from the quiet ones who might not want to talk in other types of activist spaces.
3) Pretty Protest
Sarah revealed how she makes a conscious decision to wear colour for ‘stitch-ins’, a marked change from her usual monochrome attire. This colourful campaigning connects to the visual or aesthetic element involved in craftivism – the very act of sewing in a public place will often draw looks of intrigue from curious bystanders. This is important, because it creates a space for discussion in a context that is usually hidden – people actively choose to partake in meetings or demos, whereas public craftivism involves the forced visibility of textile art for a wider political purpose. This could lead to the involvement of people who may not have otherwise done so, precisely because the medium through which those politics are being channelled acts as a gentle way of easing the individual in to more thoughtful considerations and discussions. Such self-reflection can provoke insights that would not exist in other situations.
4) Intriguing Activism
Sarah likes to keep her craftivist projects small and surprising, by placing a fact, statement or statistic off eye level in a public space. This is more intriguing and gives the passer by food for thought. The main purpose of this type of action revolves around the aim of being thought-provoking. This is demonstrated by the very fact that Sarah has managed to reach out into broader publications beyond the realm of activism by raising awareness of craftivism as a political tool in itself through exposure in fashion or craft magazines. It’s really important to reach out to groups of people who may feel untouched by certain subjects, as their involvement and personal experiences can benefit everyone.
Social media has a huge role to play in sharing the visually elements of activism. The DIY ethos involved in creating political textile art and the act of self-publishing and sharing it places the focus on the individual effort that each of us can take, whilst still reminding us that we are part of a larger community, both online and offline.
