greer/ black

Anthea black is a canadian artist, cultural worker, and writer. Most of her work revolves around the collaborative work with queers. Nicole Burisch is a canadian cultural worker, artist and critic. These two artist have collaboratied with each other and are both craftivist, meaning they both believe that in using craft as a social and political tool can strengthen ones actions.

They present their viewpoints to the reader through the presentation of other craftivisms. Craftivist like Peter Hawkins, who made a quilt call "naming names" to introduce the AIDS epidemic in society. They also presented the revolutionary knitting circle, who knit, march and rallies for peace. The next person they presented was the Danish artist Marianne Jorgensen, who lead a project call the pink tank project. This project uses the internet to publicize the knitting of Jorgenssn and many other knitters. They knitted four thousand square feet of quilt to protest against the war in iraq. The next craftivst introduce was Barb Hunts. She knitted replic land mines to publicize the "paradox of linking leisure activities and political actions". they also mention that Hunts work is display in a museum, which will increase it possiblity of political engagement. The next artist preent was Wednesday Lupypciw. She focuses on the idea of lack of functionality, polished, and complete works in order to bring out the competiveness of the DIY culutre.

All of these artist represents the concept of participatory craft, but the media begins to use thes events to promote a certain life style which does not portray the aims of the activty and the goals of the craftivist. Anthea and Burisch stated that museums are one of these expanding businesses. They imply that framing a piece of craft is a marketing technique that the museums uses. But, by framing the craft, it devalues its craftiness and is merely a piece of craft without its full influental aspect. They suggests that in order to demolished these threats to craft, the work must be stored within an organization that gives each piece their space, organization like the artist-run center.This organization is design to emphasis and publicize the crafts and willnot let it be put on exhibits, which will cost it to lose its influence on other people. The organization will also keep records of each of the pieces to keep their influence alive and well for future generation sto reflect on, both(tecniccally and mentally).

Tehy want the reader to consider the idea of artist space and how providing a piece space it  can increase its meaning and influence. the list off how important craft can be int eh political world and how craft's meaning can be demoralized by being inserted into museum exhibits. They suggests that the craft should be given its space and should be kept in an environment that is better suited for the craft, meaning where it will be valued more. I feel as if the authors are ignoring the idea of individuality and is focusing on the majority. Yes, the majority of people, when seeing a peice on a museum display will admire its visually and briefly admire it for the little basic information it is presented with, but there are those who look deeper intot he piece than what is presented in fron tof them, but I do not disagree with their agreement that each craft should be provided its own space(a space where it is admire by the majority that sees it). By iusing technology to help them publicize each piece and allowing it to be viewed electronically by itself can be consider to be good space.


Betsy Greer is dedicated craftivist who write and knitted for peace. She is one of many craftivist who uses knitting and writing to promote peace not only within the world, but to the individual level of a persons home.  She can also be known as the one who began craftivism. The text present eh history of her experience leading to the creation of craftivism.

The idea of craftivism came to her by her curiosity and her desire to create and deep connections to others by helping them and thus helping to preserve the techniques and tradition that comes with knitting. She focus a lot on her journey to master the art of knitting, progressing little by little from the simpliest craft to harder ones. Soon after she return to North carolina, she saw on the new that war was happening and her emotions arosed, causing her to protest against it. From there on she got the idea of how craft can be combined with activism. The word craftivist was introduce to her through one of her friends in her knitting circle, and she was further introduce to the word while searching up the church of craft. Soon after she posted up a page about craftivism, people began to spread it around.  

Greer wants the reader to understand where she began to develop the concept of craftivism. She presented to the audience the events proceeding its creation. She then considers the idea that craftivism is not hers and hers alone to define and to criticize and to impliment. In the breif ending of the text, she clearly stated that craftivism is not hers alone and that other people should use it, think about it, and adapted it in their own ways. Her idea incorporated the idea of individuality, therefore she is considering many view points of the world, therefore she did not excluded the individuality of people.

I could really see the connection between the last reading and this weeks reading. The concept that that these to author mentions are not working alone, leisure time is a time to influence and to gain. I strongy believe that craft do and will play a big role in activism. Noow that the internet can publicize the events occurring in the world, it is beneficial to present rebellion in a creative way. And through these creative ways it can attract many viewers, supporters and followers,