Gender Blues
There was this moment in my life where everything became a whole lot clearer; the moment it was explained to me that gender identity is not an either-or, rather it’s a two axis grid. And your position on that grid is not necessarily fixed but can, and often does, shift.
Because, like all forms of identity, gender identity is in the eye of the beholder. We are all unique individuals and whilst we might have many things in common, how we identify ourselves and how we see ourselves within our identities is an entirely personal position. Of course, how society sees these things is an entirely different proposition..
Once I began to see my own gender identity as a fluid spectrum I literally stopped worrying about it. It was as if I had been wearing glasses of the wrong prescription and rather than continue to try and squint to see, I just took them off.
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As part of the Tapysteria Hacks series, I chose to embroider this quote by one of my most significant role models in terms of understanding gender identity, Patti Smith. One day, doilies shall experience that same clarity.
In a war someone has to die
Have you heard about this amazing new project? “In a war someone has to die” is an amazing new collaborative embroidery project by Hanne Bang.
From Hanne:
A couple of years ago I happened to zap by a TV program, in which a journalist was interviewing a professional African soldier. To the soldier`s great disappointment he was out of work at the moment – because there was no war in his region.
The interviewer asked the soldier if he was afraid of dying, and the soldier said: “No I am not afraid of dying. Are you afraid of dying?” The interviewer answered: “Yes I am afraid of dying”. Then the soldier said, without any sentimentality: “In a war someone has to die”.
This little dialogue, and the words “In a war someone has to die”, returned to me over and over again. Of course I knew that in wars people die, but suddenly I saw the essence of war and the reality of it very clearly.
These words are the main element in the art project. I use this sentence – these harsh words – in a feminine expression, as handkerchiefs and embroidery are.
You can participate in this project by visiting the website or the facebook page. I can’t wait to see the finished result!
My Motto
Every now and then you stumble across something and think ‘gee, I’d totally tattoo that on myself’. Well, this year I had one of those moments and went with it.
I’ve always thought I’d wait until I was at least 30 before I got a tattoo. I had that gut instinct that if I did something like that before then I’d most probably end up regretting it. I was a fickle young thing.
So for the last couple of years I have seriously contemplated a couple of ideas. I did get very close to a cross stitch design. Figured I needed to stitch it up before embarking on actual ink. And after I had done that, decided it would be a bit big for what I wanted.
I’m a collector of old craft. Either finished pieces or the things people use to make with. I have lots of old needle cases and needle books. Tons of old needles, wool winders, thimbles, you get my drift. A couple of months ago I bought this simply gorgeous antique souvenir sewing kit. It didn’t take long for me to realise that THIS was what was going on me forever.
Click here to see the other images of the box. It is such a delightful object, I am going to treasure it for a very long time!
I’m the kind of person that believes in the importance of signs. It’s crucial to remind yourself of the messages you hold true. Some people hang stuff on the wall, pin things to their office cubicles, embroider samplers, paint on footpaths. I have a small affirmation stuck on the inside of my wardrobe door, I have pictures on my walls, and a vast collection of button badges I can pop out for the right moment.
It’s Never Too Late To Mend, is very much a motto for me. I apply it to craft, politics, our lovely planet, my relationships and communities. And now I proudly wear my motto on my arm to help me keep on track for the rest of my life.
A massive thanks to Matt Gordon who was working out of Down to Earth Tattoos for his beautiful work. He was so much fun to hang out with!
And another massive thanks to Mark Burban for the great pic. I did some really great work with Mark and will be revealing more on that project soon!
Now, get mending!
xxx
rayna
pop! goes the weaver
You are cordially invited to the final event of my residency at the awesomely lovely Iramoo Community Centre. As part of the Show Us Your Arts day, I will be presenting the work ‘WE are Wyndham Vale’ to the community centre.
Following the unveiling, I’ll be holding a FREE coiled weaving workshop. Come along and learn the basic technique of the ancient art of coiled weaving with some unusual materials and a few radical applications. The workshop will be held in the community centre kitchen and there will be ample supplies of tea and cake. Naturally. You can RSVP here. Places are very limited so please call the centre or email me to book your spot.
There will be a heap of other artistic activities happening around the centre on the day. The flyer is below. Be sure to call the centre to book any of the events you are interested in.
A big thanks to the Iramoo Community Centre and the Wyndham City Council for supporting this event.
Progressions
It’s been a bit quiet around here as I’ve been very busy stitching!
For those of you who have been following the progress of the WE are Wyndham Vale project, the photos in this post are all progress shots for you to check out. Submissions closed last week and there was some truly visionary ideas contributed to the project. I can just imagine all of the ideas coming to life and Wyndham Vale becoming a truly sustainable and vibrant community!
I am in the throes of stitching now and I invite anyone who wants to join in to come down to Iramoo and get involved. I’ll be there in the kitchen stitching for the following sessions next week:
Monday (25th Jul), Wednesday (27th), Thursday (28th), Monday (1st Aug) from 11.30-2.30.
If you have always wanting to learn embroidery, come along and I will give you a lesson. Or if you’ve been stitching since birth, and everyone in between, come along and stitch your favourite part of the map. All materials are provided. We’ll be hanging in the kitchen stitching, drinking tea, and eating cake! If you haven’t been there before and want to come along the Iramoo community centre is at 84 Honour Avenue, Wyndham Vale.
I have a date for the unveiling too. Stay tuned for news on that another exciting workshop!
WE are Wyndham Vale
On the same day that the Wyndham Weekly reported I was to be the new Artist in Residence at Iramoo, Delfin Lend Lease announced a new $1B property development on the fringes of Wyndham Vale. This yet to be publicly named development will house up to 12,000 people within 4000 dwellings. According to media reports (but surprisingly nothing on Delfin Lend Lease’s website) there are plans for four schools, community, sport and recreation facilities, open space with lakes and waterways, and a shopping centre.
Like all master planned developments, this estate will be designed and branded with a specific theme(s) of housing and will be sold in staged releases of house and land packages.
Since then yet another large development has been announced for the area. Raising even more questions about the pressures all this rapid development is going to place on already stressed infrastructure.
Far too often the values and long term goals of existing communities are left out of the design and planning processes. While councils may develop long term goals for their area, in areas of rapid growth it seems clear to me that corporate developers have much more power and control over the social and environmental development than the community or local government. Add on top the differing levels of decision making responsibilities between local and state government, it does all get a bit confusing for local people who do want to participate in planning processes. I can’t speak for the Wyndham Vale community because I don’t know the specific history of the relationships between the council/state government and the developers operating in the area. But I do know that of the many conversations I’ve had with locals about the history of the evolution of Wyndham Vale, these issues seem to be very much at play here.
Reflecting on these issues, I would like to present the major project for my residency, “WE are Wyndham Vale”.
I invite all residents of Wyndham Vale to contribute their future visions and exciting ideas for the area. All of the submissions are to be incorporated into a large visual wall map of the area. The map will then be embroidered for exhibition, alongside the submissions. Participation is easy, simply download the submission form, print it out, fill it in and email or post it in or drop it off at one of the drop boxes around Wyndham by the end of 8th of July (details on the form).
Once all the submissions are collected and the design is collated, I will be holding public stitching sessions for people to get involved in the making of the map. You can indicate if you want to be involved in this part of the project on the contribution form.
My hope is for a community vision of the priorities local residents hold important for the future of this area. The map will be framed and kept on display in the Iramoo Community Centre.
So please download the contribution form by clicking the get involved button below and get thinking about what YOU see Wyndham Vale’s future looking like.
Finally a special big thanks to the Iramoo Community Centre and Wyndham Council for getting behind this unique project.
Looking forward to seeing your ideas!
xox
Rayna
click the button above to download the submission form (.pdf 61kb)
Finishing Off
I’ve been quite slack on the blogging front recently )read: stupidly busy doing other stuff) but really wanted to share some stuff I’ve seen recently which deserves to be seen!
From the Facebook group, there’s been all sorts of interesting things pop up recently. I LOVE this one by Aruna, what an awesome present.
And this is from another Johanna. What is it with all these awesome cross stitching Johanna’s!?!
This beautiful, beautiful piece is from Heather. Visit her blog to know more about it. But I’m happy just looking at it. The stitching is incredible and the words are brilliant ones to ponder on.
As for me, I’m busy busy preparing for an installation! I’ll have news on that soon. And Christmas present pics coming even sooner. And I’ve been sending Hooplas everywhere! Y’all obviously like your stitches subversive ’cause I’ve had tons of orders. Yay!
Hope you all had a wonderful safe christmas and are planning a kick ass new years!
xox
Takin’ over the town
Craftster user craftcore has done these two gorgeous embroidered graffiti pieces. I especially like the crochet one. Especially in this time of a global economic crisis, I’d rather think we were using at as an excuse to create sustainable and self-sufficient communities rather than have a violent uprising. Sounds much more interesting (and less painful) to me.
Craftcore has also made some contributions to the upcoming issue of Hoopla which is perilously close to the photocopier!
Also found on craftster was plavalaguna’s version of the Firefox pattern which has been getting a fair few hits recently. So if you’ve been wondering what it looks like finished, here it is!
Check out her website and deviant art
Real Dolls
Check out these groovy dolls being stitched by the clever Ms. Amy.
I am creating a series of dolls that focus on the inherent beauty of all.
The purpose of the series is to subvert the typical concept of “beauty” by using a traditional feminine housewifery type of skill to create modern depictions of of everyone’s beauty.
And Amy is looking for more ‘models’ for her dolls.
I’m looking for all types of women, hetero and homo ladies, womyn, lesbians, bois, butches, transmen, drag queens, queers, and femmes to be a part of my series. I want to celebrate the beauty I see in women everyday.
You just need to send her a full length photo (clothed if you want) and a couple of details. For more info, check out her website
I really like this project. It’s not too often you see issues of body image being challenged in the craft world. There is still a dominance of dolls with completely unnatural body proportions, especially the creepy big eyes! Very nice to see someone challenging the dominant images.
Remember there are no good or bad bodies, just $50 Million advertising campaigns.
Amy also has an etsy store, you can check out here. This is my favourite!
