ACTIVISM OF THE WEEK - KATE JUST, MARYANN TALIA PAU

INTO THE NIGHT

a scene from Just's 2013 UK Knit Hope project

It would seem that these are dark days indeed for women worldwide. Violent acts against women in seemingly safe areas are being widely reported and quite frankly are distressing and disturbing. This is why so many of us were uplifted my weaver Maryann Talia Pau's recent 1 Million Stars to end Violence Project.

The cynical amongst us may question the power of craft to solve or even salve these issues but community craft, heart and soul is about bringing people together. As a group we  process these terrible events in a way that can make us feel safer and stronger.

Australian Artist Kate Just, fresh from the success of her similar project in the UK 'Knit Hope is undergoing a new version here in Melbourne titled 'Knit Safe'. The idea is to come together, everyone knit a section of a large black and silver banner and then take to the streets as a craft army. If you would like to know more about this community project you can visit the face book page here. the next knitting workshop is February 1 at Westspace Gallery from 1-4.