Something a little different.
In a time when it may seem bleakly pointless to create, remember that we need your art now more than ever. It's how we share our voices, our experiences, and our strengths.
We can come together through art to speak about these issues we’re facing as a community. Whether it’s lack of housing, social security, SNAP, medical care, ICE operations, disability; whatever you need to say loudly, feel free to say it louder. We support your feelings, your hardships, and your triumphs. It may seem like everything is designed to make us afraid. But let us join together, support each other in our community with open hearts and open hands. We are reaching out a hand in courage, and invite you to hold on tightly.
Please take the time to read through these resources when you have the capacity.
Reach out if you need support. We are here for you.
What We Can Do With Our Art:
A call for art from cbuscreativeclub. Attached to this email you will find a zine template for you to use.
Two articles on Craftivism:
Craftivism: The History of Knitting and Fiber Arts as Social and Political Dissent
Moving the Needle: The Power of Craftivism, Identity and Community
Internet Archive (a great free resource for a multitude of media):
Craftivism : The Art of Craft and Activism by Betsy Greer - full book with a free account sign up.
Lastly, a reminder that we are dangerous with our art. Toni Morrison's Final Thoughts at "Art and Social Justice"
What We Can Do With Our Voice:
Resist Bot - Resistbot turns your texts into faxes, postal mail, or emails to your representatives–delivered in minutes. Text resist to 50409 or use the web bot. Answer a few questions, and they will deliver your message to all your elected officials in minutes. Also, Resist Bot will check if you’re registered to vote, by texting Check to Resistbot.
5 Calls - Make calls in support of progressive issues. They will find your representatives based on your zip code. (Your location stays private. They don't store it and will never sell data to third parties.) They provide you with a script and tell you who to call for your chosen issue, from Representatives and Senators to Governors and Attorneys General.
Calls stay under a minute, but I know some people do not feel comfortable talking on the phone. Try this instead: calling on evenings and weekends with the intent of leaving a voicemail is still a great way to make your voice heard. Congressional offices are usually only open during normal business hours in their local time zone.
Raise - Know your rights; Raise - Resources - This is a organization based in Florida, but these two pages have great resources and knowledge available for free. Including this “Know Your Rights Card” - PDF download for printing here
What We Can Do With Our Mind:
Encourage gaining knowledge and sharing that knowledge through reading. Two books that are recommended:
Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice By Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
The Anatomy of Fascism By Robert O. Paxton
Please share any other books you feel have helped you.
This is a lot. The world is going through so much, and in turn, so are we. We need to remember to protect our mental health and stability. Here are a few somatic exercises to reset our nervous systems.
More on nervous system dysregulation here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Additionally, share with others what you are doing to find joy. Joy is an act of resistance, always.
RADICAL SELF CARE: ALICIA GARZA
”Sometimes the work can’t move unless we allow people in their three dimensions to be present.”
Additional Resources
Amazon Alternatives: (We recognize this is not accessible for everyone)
Zero Waste Store
Ecoternatives
A Poem by Amanda Gorman:
Something to watch: Instructions For A Bad Day
Please take care of yourselves, and take care of each other. Thank you for your art and thank you for your presence. Stay safe, stay warm, and stay forever creative.