Jen Carpenito Photos.
The phone call came in about three hours before my first ever craftivism event at the Wallingford Public Library. The librarian told me that my room request should never have been approved, because the library was closing early that afternoon. Uh oh, I thought.
After panicking for a moment, I spoke to the librarian about holding the event outside the library instead (did I mention that I love librarians?). So that is what we did, setting up a folding table under the shade of a tall tree in front of the building. A group of us got to know one another as we painted rocks to spread awareness around current events, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) kidnappings and actions people could take, such as supporting their immigrant communities and voting.
We drew messages of hope and affirmation, including “You matter” and “You are not alone.”
As we were leaving the event, a new friend asked me if I wanted to lead a “Crafter’s Guild” for a volunteer organization. At the time, I could never have imagined that such a small event – only five of us attended – would have a major impact on my life.
My high school history textbooks told the story of the Civil War as if it ended slavery. They focused on Christopher Columbus, but not Indigenous peoples. It wasn’t until graduate school that I really learned about the history of this country. So, it is unsurprising that craftivists—that’s the portmanteau of “craft” and “activist”— did not make it into any of my social studies classes.
Still, craftivists have shown up for their communities for centuries. For example, people formerly enslaved by the Roman Empire made and wore handmade caps to symbolize freedom. That same idea—a simple garment that could be a code—symbolized allegiance during both the American and French Revolutions, and solidarity against the Nazi occupation of Norway during World War II.
Jump forward, and there are examples like the AIDS Memorial Quilt, created by activist Cleve Jones and others. Made during the Ronald Reagan administration, which notoriously looked the other way during the first years of the HIV/AIDS crisis, Jones first displayed the work in October 1987, during the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
The quilt now comprises over 50,000 quilt panels, with each panel honoring the life of one person lost to AIDS. More recently, in September of this year, activists and community volunteers in Minneapolis unveiled the “Stolen Neighbors” quilt to honor the thousands of people disappeared by ICE in Minnesota.
I am truly inspired by the people who can create something from nothing, and use it for good. AI got nothing on them.
My work in craftivism has led me to ask questions, such as: “What brings people to protests?” “Which fight or fights are people fighting?” “Who are people protecting?” To answer these, I have begun work on a paper chain of people holding hands, to show people they are not alone.
In the crafting process, which I’ve been able to do with collaborators at the Wallingford Public Library (shout out to the Cricut machine), people have written down all sorts of reasons for protesting, such as “world peace,” “LGBTQ+ rights,” “to protect our elections,” “school funding,” and “healthcare is a human right.”
People also shared tidbits about those they were advocating for, including “my students,” “my clients as a social worker,” “my sister’s future,” “create a safer world for the next generation,” and “for people who aren’t able to be here.” What I now call “The People Project” has reached 170 people; 170 reasons why people are taking action when our country needs it most.
The project bloomed into one I refer to as “hope slips,” through which people can paint their hopes on large boxes painted to resemble “ICE Cubes.” In carefully rendering each hope, crafters cut out flowers, butterflies, shooting stars, and doves.
I collected, through these hopes, anecdotal data. I primed and painted cardboard boxes; the “ICE” cubes that didn’t look like ice cubes at all, just boxes painted blue. Still, at our next event, which was on a day so windy one of our tents nearly blew away, we set up our blue boxes and asked people, “What gives you hope?”
There were quite a few people who froze with a marker in their hand, unsure what to write. There were also quite a few people who expressed feeling “hopeless.” However, with some encouragement, they found inspiration by reading other peoples’ hopes.
In the days following the event, I read through every single hope slip and categorized them by theme. That list soon became a poem, titled simply “What Gives You Hope?” Answers ranged from immigration to a moment of global peace. From that exercise, I constructed this poem:
What Gives You Hope?Peace and LovePeople making the choiceto say, “No more!”People using their voiceto say, “No war!”Give peace a chance,it is never “too late.”Now is the time to take a stance.Love burns away hate.Immigrants make America greater.Spread wishes for joy and good health.Love your neighbor, andlove yourself.HumanityLeaders who don’t “cash in,”who don’t rip families apart.I hope that more compassiontouches this country’s heart.Be kind to all people.No one should have to hide in fear.No human is illegal.You are meant to be here.The FutureProtect transgender children,black children,brown children,your children,my children,daughters, nonbinary children, and sons,We want a brighter future for everyone!So, let’s protect the next generation,let’s show them what democracy is all about.My baby will grow up in a safe nation,my baby will grow up around people speaking out.FreedomFor all, we want liberation,no matter where someone is from.No unjust incarcerations!We want to live in safety and freedom!No oppression! No wall!No tax cuts for just a few!We want equal rights for all,and trans rights are human rights too!MiscellaneousCreativity and community help me cope.Cankles. Cankles give me hope.You Are Not AloneSolidarity and safe spaces.Creating community; building a village.Everyone, here, from different places.Standing up for those without my privilege.Helpers doing all they can do,resisting by day, and by night.The many outnumber the few.Knowing I’m not alone in this fight.Seeing others who just keep going.We can make the world better.The movement keeps on growing.All of us being here together.---
I cannot remember where or when I first heard the term “Craftivism” (there is a lot to keep track of nowadays!). However, after that first rock-painting event, I knew that I had found a place where I belong. I am a craftivist, and I’m just getting started.