Thank you for introducing me to the concept of "craftivism," and also to the Tiny Pricks Project. I'm a gay male needlepointer. Drawing on the work of Joseph McBrinn in his book "Queering the Subversive Stitch: Men & the Culture of Needlework" (Bloomsbury, 2021), I'm having fun doing my bit queering the misconception that needlepoint, and all stitchery, is "woman's work." And I'm also having fun doing a bit of (mild) protesting through my series of NAUGHTY BOY NEEDLEPOINTS. Transforming often well known images from famous artists into the new medium of wool yarn on canvas, I aim to raise questions about the images and what we see when we look at them. Can an image really be all that "naughty" when it's stitched into a parlor cushion? And how much can the impact of an image be altered when transformed through the "feminine" craft of stitching - particularly when stitched by a man - and a queer one at that? (Not claiming anything profound - but having lots of fun.)
Ah wonderful! I came across both "The Subversive Stitch" AND "Queering the Subversive Stitch" in my reading, but I only have so much time . . . Your work sounds delightful. Maybe I'll do a column on, say, male stitchers & female woodworkers. The intersection of medium, message, cultural expectation, gender norms, LGBTQ stereotypes etc. etc. . . . it's all, as they say, a rich text! (Very glad you're here — and having fun with your craft.)
Thank you for introducing me to the concept of "craftivism," and also to the Tiny Pricks Project. I'm a gay male needlepointer. Drawing on the work of Joseph McBrinn in his book "Queering the Subversive Stitch: Men & the Culture of Needlework" (Bloomsbury, 2021), I'm having fun doing my bit queering the misconception that needlepoint, and all stitchery, is "woman's work." And I'm also having fun doing a bit of (mild) protesting through my series of NAUGHTY BOY NEEDLEPOINTS. Transforming often well known images from famous artists into the new medium of wool yarn on canvas, I aim to raise questions about the images and what we see when we look at them. Can an image really be all that "naughty" when it's stitched into a parlor cushion? And how much can the impact of an image be altered when transformed through the "feminine" craft of stitching - particularly when stitched by a man - and a queer one at that? (Not claiming anything profound - but having lots of fun.)
Ah wonderful! I came across both "The Subversive Stitch" AND "Queering the Subversive Stitch" in my reading, but I only have so much time . . . Your work sounds delightful. Maybe I'll do a column on, say, male stitchers & female woodworkers. The intersection of medium, message, cultural expectation, gender norms, LGBTQ stereotypes etc. etc. . . . it's all, as they say, a rich text! (Very glad you're here — and having fun with your craft.)
... "male stitchers & female woodworkers" - that would make an interesting (and FUN) shake-things-up piece. Do it!
Admire piece! It points (pardon the pun) to effective action in a frustrating time.
Porgy Has Something To Say
It ain’t necessarily so, it ain’t necessarily so
That immigrant children are now our villains
It ain’t necessarily so
That no one believes the emoluments clause?
That we’ve shredded all copies of federal laws?
That indictments from Jack Smith are just a big myth?
No, it ain’t necessarily so.
You can live clean, not have any fault
And have no vice yet still be beaten by ICE
It ain’t necessarily so, that all truth is faux
No it ain’t necessarily so.
So start believing in those that ain’t thieving
We don’t have to give up or feel pent up
Fight against this incessant grafting with some creative crafting
Don’t be at home in the world of this showman
Arrest all those MAGA degenerates and their vile confederates
Put the small d in democracy and let’s end this plutocracy.
Philip are you proposing this for a needlepoint project?
More likely painting, insistent hectoring, and continued doggerelism, but I've signed up a terrific needlepointer who hopefully will participate