The Close Knit podcast aims to hold space for conversation to be had about the ways we use fiber to process world and life events

Just a quick note to say thank you so much to those who have pledged on the close knit patreon so far, your support means so much to me, and will mean a better quality podcast that I can sustainably produce long-term. For those of you who are unfamiliar with patreon, it’s similar to the way that community radio gets funding- it’s a way to give me as little as $1/month to say thanks. Your pledges also give you access to content I’ll be creating just for patrons and sneak peeks at content I’m creating. If you’d like to support the podcast through patreon, you can do so here!

photo courtesy of Fairfax Media from Tal

This week I spoke to Tal Fitzpatrick, a textile artist working primarily in appliqué quilting. Tal’s story is one that I’m so excited to share, as she found textile and fibre art later in life than many guests I’ve spoken to on the podcast, (though you’ll learn she has a family history of pretty amazing fibre art) Tal explains how working in natural disaster community resilience projects eventually led her to pursing her PhD and how she looks at Crafitvism in her active, participatory research. Tal has been working on a number of incredible, large-scale social engaged craftivism projects in addition to her PhD, and she talks us through her research on craftivism, her working definition, and how she sees craftivism as a mode of DIY citizenship. This conversation with Tal was one that had me reeling for days after - I was trying to explain the conversation to other people in my life, family members and friends, how everything Tal mentioned just resonated so deeply for me. I can’t wait to hear what the podcast community thinks of this episode!

People/ Things we mentioned in the podcast:

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 (General Assembly resolution 217 A) as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations. It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and it has been translated into over 500 languages.
Edit to our convo about gay marriage: Australia was the 26th country to legalise same sex marriage!
Tal and Stephanie's UDHR quilt project: http://talfitzpatrick.com/udhr-craftivism-project #UDHRquilt
CRAFTIVIST MANIFESTO Tal's Craftivism Manifesto will be available as a free download online on the 9th of March here. && a shout out to Betsy Greer and Sayraphim Lothian whose work Tal drew on when writing her definition of craftivism.
Male textile artists that inspire Tal: Ben Venom and Lucas Gorgan
Artists in Tal's family: Dawn Fitzpatrick (My paternal grandmother) Her book: Dawn Fitzpatrick “Folk Art Applique Quilts” (Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 1990). Sofia Fitzpatrick @toffyfitz @skullsbysofiafitzpatrick
Tal's supervisor (and baddass artist and feminist) Kate Just @Katejustknits
Tal's friend the amazing textile artist : Hannah Gartside @hannahgartside (Australia)
Craftivist project to follow/support: Social Justice Sewing Academy - @sjsacademy www.sjsacademy.com

UDHR artists to look out for:
Stephanie Dunlap @eliminatembroidery (USA)
Janine Heschl @textile_wildlife_art (Austria)
Helen Fraser @Helenfraserartist (Australia)
Bolivia Vega @lechienbinair (Venezuela)
Willemien De Villers @willemien_de_villiers (south Africa)
Karin Ruut @kerart (finland/Estonia/UK)
Alicia Lyes @Craftle_grayskull (USA)

Find Tal: instagram | website |

FIND TAL IRL:

TAL'S PHD EXHIBITION:

CRAFTIVISM HQ, GALLERY: KINGS ARI DATE: 7-10 March 2018, WED-SAT, 12-6PM

ADDRESS: LEVEL 1, 171 KING STREET, MELBOURNE 3000

WWW.KINGSARTISTRUN.ORG.AU

Want more?

Subscribe: Itunes or Pocket Casts

Like what you're hearing?

Awesome! I'm glad you've found your way to this podcast. Please feel free to subscribe, leave a review on iTunes (this makes all the difference to reaching more people!) and share with your loved ones. Thanks for tuning in.

Until next time!

ani