Craftivism is Activism!
Craftivism is activism! Calling on the talents of an amazing group of artisans and creators, Mass 50501 tabled at a series of winter markets across the state in an effort to solicit donations for pro-democracy causes and community support, and to build awareness. A fiscally successful and community-engaging venture, the Boston Globe featured Mass 50501’s craftivism and messaging, reaching a wide audience and building up excitement for the organization.
Mass 50501 put out an open call to members and newsletter recipients for artisan donations and holding craft circles. Over 30 artisans responded, with creations ranging from activism stickers and buttons, hope-inspired embroidery hoops, pottery, jewelry, knit and crochet items, embroidered jackets, art (including rejected Bad Art from Boston’s Museum of Bad Art), candles, ornaments, keychains, customized novelty drinkware, coasters, bookmarks, quilted zipper bags, and a hand-sewn quilt. Craft circles built community over a common cause, creating resistance frog ornaments, winter cards, beaded jewelry, and activism cross stitch keychains and bookmarks.
It took Mass 50501 volunteers to pull these events together. Members collected and ferried goods across the state, from the Greater Boston Area, North Shore, South Shore and Cape Cod, Merrimack Valley, and Western Massachusetts. Once the crafts were collected to a centralized location, Mass 50501 participated in winter markets in Tewksbury, Waltham, Billerica, Westford, Shrewsbury, and Haverhill, MA. Mass 50501 advertised these winter markets to its broad newsletter and donor base, drumming up excitement and pulling people through the doors. At the markets, members donning “No Kings” shirts carefully arranged and packed up the display behind the Mass 50501 banner, and pitched the pro-democracy cause to shoppers. Mass 50501 Ambassadors engaged the crowd and other tablers and passed out “No Kings” stickers, making successful connections and growing our numbers.
The craftivism reception was overwhelmingly positive, with praise from shoppers and other vendors for upholding democracy. Like-minded vendors sported our “No Kings” sticker in support. In particular, stickers such as coffee-themed “ICE in our Coffee, Not in our City” and buttons featuring ice cubes with “No ICE” ran out of stock. It was also a teaching moment, with stickers like one featuring a ball of yarn with “Knot into Fascism” sparking conversations between teens and their parents. Shoppers and vendors alike asked how they could participate in the future and were excited by the prospect of using their talents to create goods that can help make a difference. One ornament maker created a special bicycling resistance frog piece on the spot, in a show of solidarity.
In all, we would like to thank those of you who supported Mass 50501 either directly or indirectly this winter market season. To the artisans and craft circles, your time and talents helped to spread a message and made a monetary difference to the organization. To those of you who either stopped by our table at the markets or made a donation, in person or virtually, this wouldn’t have worked without you. We hope that this little bit of craftivism opened some conversations and encourages people to keep crafting!
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