[spectre] Fwd: Craftivism, Arnolfini

[geoff cox]

For information:

C R A F T I V I S M

Saturday 12 December 2009 - Sunday 14 February 2010
Preview Friday 11 December 6pm - 8pm

http://www.craftivism.net/

Invited artists/collectives: Kayle Brandon + Heath Bunting, Rhiannon  
Chaloner + Manuel Vason, glorious ninth, GOTO10, Rui Guerra,  
Household, Christine + Irene Hohenbüchler, JODI, Mandy McIntosh,  
Gloria Ojulari Sule, Trevor Pitt + Kate Pemberton, Janek Simon,  
Stephanie Syjuco, Clare Thornton, and projects produced with workshop  
participants + local residents

Craftivism is an Arnolfini/Relational contemporary art project that  
responds to the resurgent interest in craft as it relates to socially- 
engaged art practice. It involves fourteen projects developed by  
artists and collectives that work with craft-based traditions and  
activist practices, and who employ the tactics of  
'craftivism' (combining crafting + activism) to question and disrupt  
the prevailing codes of mass consumerism.

The project attempts to collapse the distinction between 'making' and  
'doing' - the former associated with craft, the latter with human  
action. It places an emphasis on interaction and participation in the  
wider social realm, and employs aspects of self-organisation and 'open- 
source' principles. The artists involved engage with craft-based  
traditions through diverse practices including art, technology and  
fashion. Selected works exemplify 'innovation' in the general sense  
that newly invented forms might diverge from established rules and  
perceived norms.

Craftivism is developed in relation to a range of contexts and  
includes nine artist-led participatory projects developed with local  
communities, the outcomes of which are shown as part of a gallery- 
based interactive exhibition, online and in free software-related  
projects, workshops, talks and the uncurated satellite event  
UnCraftivism. Events also take place locally at Brandon Hill Park,  
Colston Hall, Full Circle St. Paul's Youth and Family Centre, Knowle  
West Media Centre and The Mall Bristol.

The project will invite public interaction and provide opportunities  
to take part, make work and learn craft-based skills to customise  
products. It encourages wider communities to embrace the 'freedom' to  
create, modify and distribute products, and in so doing demonstrates  
the possibilities for people to modify their own lives.

Craftivism is part of the Artist/Activist season, a series of  
Arnolfini projects in Autumn/Winter 2009/2010 which provides a  
socially-active forum for debate and learning around issues of climate  
change and alternatives to the culture of consumerism.

Arnolfini
16 Narrow Quay, Bristol, UK
http://www.arnolfini.org.uk/

Craftivism is an Arnolfini/Relational project curated by Zoë Shearman,  
Director, Relational, Geoff Cox, Associate Curator of Online Projects,  
Arnolfini, and Ann Coxon, Assistant Curator, Tate Modern. It has been  
developed with the support of a Crafts Council Spark Plug Curator  
Award and is funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council  
England, Bristol City Council - Single Project Fund, The Crafts  
Council, Adam Mickiewicz Institute, Mondriaan Foundation and Polska!  
Year. Additional support and partnership from Arnolfini Café Bar,  
Bradley Stoke Library, Bristol City Council Park’s Department, Bristol  
Rope & Twine, Cameron Lee Carpets, CLIC Sargent Cancer Care for  
Children, Colston Hall, The Cookery School at Bordeaux Quay,  
Craftspace, CSF Wrestling, Full Circle St. Paul’s Youth and Family  
Project, Galerie Martin Janda Vienna, Galsworthy Graphics, Knowle West  
Media Centre, Labour Behind the Labour, The Mall Bristol,  
Naturepaint.com, POD Projects, West Country Knotters and Wicklea Youth  
& Community Centre, Brislington.



-- 
geoff cox
http://www.anti-thesis.net/work