Craftivism is craft plus activism. It is creating and sharing art that expresses a political or social message. Writer and activist Betsy Greer coined the term in 2003, and since then, it has spread around the world. Many activists share testimonials about the ways that craftivism has changed their lives, making them calmer and happier people.
My crafting makes my activism sustainable; it allows me to slow down, think deeply about issues, and share my passion creatively. It’s a way to voice my opinions visually and with great power. I see three steps in the process: Craftivists have to think of the message they want to share, along with a visual way to represent it; then they need to create the art; and then get the art into a public space.
Craftivism includes any “crafty” art, such as cross-stitch, knitting, stamping, screen-printing, and banner painting. Craftivism often takes place as a social event, with people working together to make art that is beautiful and impactful.
Since then, I’ve worked on small craftivism projects, like painted rocks and stamped pins, and I’ve also worked on some really large projects, like the 20-foot-tall banners that 350 made for recent “Youth-v-Gov” rallies. I’ve done craftivism in living rooms with a handful of friends and in warehouses with scores of volunteers.
Hanging out with climate activists while painting banners led me to educate myself on the climate crisis, which led to more involvement in the climate justice movement. I’m currently the Eugene Friends Meeting representative to the Eugene Community Climate Coalition, and I’m part of a 350 advocacy group called Climate Revolutions by Bike.
My commitment to the 350 climate campaign came slowly, but the testimony of plain living was strong in me even before I was a Quaker. Ever since I was a student, I have lived on modest means, working as an artist, buying second-hand clothing and furniture, and so on. Probably the biggest “plain living” decision my husband and I made was to live without a car. We bike, we walk, we bus, and we car-pool often. Living without a car sprang from our desire to not add to or be a part of the urban crises of pollution, noise, and congestion. We raised both our children (mostly) without a car.
If you want to see some of these craftivism projects and processes in more detail, check out my Climate Craftivism blog at https://climatecraftivism.blogspot.com. ~~~
Cynthia Black is an artist, art teacher, mother of two adult children, and soon to be a grandmother. She is a member of Eugene Friends Meeting (NPYM), and is serving as co-clerk of the meeting.
All photos that accompany this article are from Cynthia Black.
Join the national campaign to redirect fossil fuel financiers.
It is clear to climate activists that Wall Street is financing the climate crisis. Stopping this money pipeline is one of the most important ways we can address the climate emergency. In the wake of a youth-led action campaign that called for a more sustainable, low-carbon economy, the recent decision by BlackRock to divest from coal and to prioritize sustainability shows that we are able to motivate change.
This spring, organizations all around the country will focus on actions directed at Chase, BlackRock, Wells Fargo, and Liberty Mutual. The campaign will involve a number of tactics, including demonstrations at local branches, letter writing, education about fossil fuel financing and about banking alternatives, and cutting up credit cards from banks that finance fossil fuels. The spring campaign will culminate in a nation-wide day of actions at hundreds of CHASE branches on April 23rd, the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Check out plans by your local climate action groups and get involved!
Go to: stopthemoneypipeline.com
Love, Cynthia
PS: Learn why the new JPMorgan Chase “clean energy” policy of 2/25/2020 isn’t as good as it sounds: https://350seattle.org/2020/02/25/jpmorgan-chase-not-good-enough-try
