Craft + Activism = Craftivism
Craftivism is a form of activism that uses the elements of craft to convey a political message. This movement combines elements of Contemporary Art, domestic work, and activism, asking us to rethink what a call for social change might look like.
Craftivism starting in the early 2000s when writer and maker, Betsy Greer, started making crafts as a response to the United States Global War on Terror. She found knitting and cross-stitching to be another form of political intervention that challenged preconceived notices of craft and activism. Greer explains the movement is "about using what you can to express your feelings outward in a visual manner without yelling or placard waving. It was about paying attention and not letting your anger consume you, it was about channeling that anger in a productive and even loving way" (Greer, 2011, p. 183). For this reason, this movement is not restricted to fiber art or "domestic" practices, but is inclusive of any artwork that engages in social practice and favors traditional or small-scale modes of making.
Citation:
Greer, B. (2011). Craftivist History. In M. E. Buszek (Ed.), Extra/Ordinary: Craft and Contemporary Art (pp. 175–183). Duke University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv11cw76n.1
Betsy Greer, Anti-War Graffiti Cross Stitch,
2007-2008, cotton floss on Aida Cloth
