Free Olek!
Every now and then I get this rush of optimism and feel like the world is starting to become a better place. And I feel like we can make a difference. And I feel like there is such a thing as justice. And then I read a story like this.
Olek has been inspiring me and my work for years. She is one of the few ‘yarnbombers’ out there who doesn’t do her work to make shit pretty rather to make a difference. She is political. She is outrageous. She is fearless.
So to think someone like Olek can be so wholeheartedly shafted by the system in such an obvious case of injustice really does give me the chills. The idea that her situation was exacerbated by the fact she was carrying scissors – like me and all my friends do – really did fill me with dread. But of course, the thought that defending yourself from unwanted sexual attention can turn into an arrest, charges and convictions is truly messed up.
We can’t let our sister go through this without a fight.
I call all of you readers in the UK to get outraged about this case. Write to your MP, your newspaper, talk about it to your friends, engage other artists in solidarity actions and most importantly, raise some funds! This case MUST be successfully appealed.
There aint a huge amount of organising I can do from the other side of the globe. But I will do my darnedest to raise some cash. You have two top ways to donate. Visit Olek’s appeal site and grab one of her awesome postcards or prints. Or get into the radical cross stitch shop and get yourself a pattern or some zines and I’ll give 100% to Olek. Make sure you say in the notes it’s for Olek (in case you’re reading this ages into the future).
Olek, we love you and we’ve got your back sister.
Love and rage and solidarity
xxxxxxxxxx
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3 Responses to “Free Olek!”
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Have you read what Olek says about yarnbombing, by the way?
I think she does not want help from our community, she just wants money for court fees. Our sister? She spits on yarnbombing. She ain’t my sister.
Some thoughts on that: http://montrealguerillaknitting.wordpress.com/2012/06/21/the-problem-with-olek/
I also think she is not that political at all. She is opportunist. You can read about one related event in the post I wrote. Also, her actual charges might be unjust, that I can aknowledge with reading her story. But to me her big piece on injustice is not about social injustice, it’s about HER injustice. On this very long post on her appeal site, she writes only one small sentence on fighting for women’s rights, but comes back very quickly to her situation. That’s fine if you think about yourself first, but don’t go and try to look like you’re an activist for women’s rights. She has done nothing really in my opinion that is straightforward political activism. Even the cube on Astor place was discreetly titled ”in support of those in favor of change” or something like that. That is so… well… easily said. Nothing is said the re really. But Olek got a lot of media attention because she installed it next to OWS, where a humonguous amount of media were looking for something to talk about. Opportunist to me, not making a real clear statement.
that’s it! Looking forward to reading your answer to this
Mtl yarnbomb´s last [type] ..Hallow’een yarnbombing with Maille à Part
Thanks for your thoughts and love to the Montreal crew. I love the work that you guys do over there, it is outrageously great and colourful as well as fearlessly political. Respect.
I have to disagree with you about Olek. A guiding principle for my life and activism is ‘unconditional love, unconditional solidarity’. No matter what kind of background someone has, if they want to stand up for injustice and fight for what is right, they have my support. What Olek is going through is crap. No one should have to go through that. I stand by her side.
In regards to her statements about yarnbombing, it’s hard for me to articulate myself in a blog comment but I understand where she is coming from. As an artist who uses craft and textiles outdoors I am constantly asked by journalists if I am a yarnbomber and I always say no. It is not because I think what I do is better than yarnbombing, I just consider it different. And after a while it does get really tedious and frustrating answering that question, especially when there are so many other questions I could be asked about my work and activism. The reality is that the quirky crafters story is easy to pitch to the editors, the crafters trying to take down capitalism story, not so much.
She is right, there is some yarnbombing that is just plain crap. Crappily made, and crappily executed. But who really cares so long as someone has fun making it and nothing gets hurt (like trees!!) in the process. I do however think her comment in the NYT was pretty nastily editorialised. It is very hard to judge the comment out of context of conversation and I don’t doubt she had some more interesting things to say than that.
Yes, I totally agree that it is crucial in life not to take oneself too seriously and perhaps Olek is guilty of this. In my experience so are many, many activists! But does this mean I shouldn’t support her in a time of great need, I think not.
I can understand your position, which I respect but disagree with on some points. I still think she’s elitist and opportunist.
so then, until the next comment!
ciao