On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we’re talking about craftivism with my guest Shannon Downey.
Shannon is an artist, activist, craftivist, community builder, and general instigator. Her work moves people from passive consumers of art into engaged creators and leverages craft-based art forms to bring people together, present opportunities to transition from makers to change makers, and inspire radical hope for what is possible.
She’s the founder of Badass Cross Stitch and her new book Let’s Move the Needle provides a roadmap and accessible toolkit for burgeoning art activists with self-reflective activities, exercises, prompts, and stories.
This episode is sponsored by Craftsy.
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This is my second interview with Shannon and we cover everything she’s been doing since we last spoke (which is a lot!). Listen to my first interview with Shannon on episode #121 recorded in May 2018.
We talk briefly about Shannon’s upbringing in a house with parents who were activists involved with the labor movement.
Shannon talks about her plans to travel in an RV and teach before the pandemic hit. She made a pandemic pivot that allowed her to fulfill her travel by staying in people’s driveways and figuring out how to teach online. Her travels ended when she was hit by a drunk driver and her RV was totaled.
Shannon explains how she came to write a book. When her first idea turned out to not be true to her mission, she revised and rewrote, eventually pitching a completed manuscript for Let’s Move the Needle to Storey. Shannon explains why she wanted her book to be published before the 2024 US presidential election.
Shannon explains why she chose embroidery as her craft of choice. She discusses the ways in which stitching can bring people together in community and how powerful that togetherness can be for building mutual understanding. I ask Shannon how she weathers the storm of negative criticism that often comes her way for speaking out on social media.
Shannon offers an annual craftivism grant, providing seed funding and expertise to a maker working on a craftivism project.
Of course, I ask Shannon to recommend three things she’s enjoying right now. Shannon recommends:
- The Golden Bachelorette
- the complexity of parasocial relationships
- Yay flags
Keep up with Shannon on her website and on Instagram for the latest updates.