I am awestruck by the boundless creativity showcased in the pages of “Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft and Design,” and can’t wait to see the documentary.
Faythe Levine traveled 19,000 miles and interviewed 24 artists to explore the growing craft movement in our country and the results are, in themselves, pieces of work to cherish and share.
These are not your grandmother’s crafts. More than simply creating beautiful and practical objects, many of these artists use their materials to portray an attitude, express a political point of view and make a statement. There’s Stephanie Syiuco, whose Anti-Factory clothing company tags its handmade items with a “Because Sweatshops Suck” label; Whitney Lee, who latch-hooks rugs into gallery-worthy portraits; Jenny Hart, who makes embroidery look like a 21st century discovery. Then there’s Knitta, a group of guerilla knitters who leave their mark – and their knitted wonders – on public signs, poles and door handles, humanizing the impersonal urban environment and showing the power of something made by hand.
The book is peppered with stories, photos and essays that are as individual as the artists they represent. Don’t be surprised if you feel the urge to take out the old sewing machine you stashed in the closet or to finish the scarf you started back in high school.
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