Knit Democracy Together with Eve Jacobs-Carnahan (#64)

At the intersection of craftivism and the world of campaign finance
is Eve Jacobs-Carnahan. Eve is taking the historical practice of
knitting circles and re-envisioning them as modern craftivist
assemblies. While bringing artists together to craft the building
blocks of a characteristic state capitol building, she’s also
leading conversations about changing the role of money in election
campaigns. But the impact that Eve is going to make with this work
is going to extend far beyond the current election cycle, in fact,
it has very little to do with it. 

Kicking off in early 2020, Knit Democracy Together combines
interested organizations, knitting circles, and conversation
about election finance reform. The result will be a 5 foot by 3
foot knitted sculpture of a state capitol building that Eve hopes
to exhibit in multiple venues.


The pandemic has certainly had an effect on Eve’s plans, but it
hasn’t stopped her. In our conversation, she shares details about
reimagining in-person knitting circles, funding and exhibiting
the project, and the art of knitting as a daring act of social
activism. Eve explains the stereotypes that she has to push
against when using a domestic handcraft to increase social
activism and the goals she has for this unique and powerful
project.


Highlights


Eve shares the objectives and the vision behind Knit
Democracy Together. (2:43)

The effect of COVID-19 on Eve’s plan for in-person knitting
circles. (7:11)

How Eve found people to participate in the project. (10:26)

Details about the yarn and the sculpture dimensions. (14:48)

The campaign funding message that Eve is working to increase
awareness about. (17:26)

Funding the project and what Eve learned from each declined
request. (25:07)

Questions surrounding the exhibition stage of the
project.  (27:07)

Understanding knitting as a daring act of social activism.
(28:37)

How Eve is leading a group project while remaining
politically neutral. (32:27)

Collaborating in a community project just might mean letting
go of total control. (34:33)

Steps that will move the Knit Democracy Together project to
the next level. (41:10)



Mentioned


Knit Democracy Together

Art Biz Success Community

Katharine Cobey

Cat Mazza’s Nike Blanket Petition

Eve Jacobs-Carnahan

Eve Jacobs-Carnahan on Instagram



Resources


Art Biz Success

Intro and outro music provided by Wildermiss



Quotes


“People are cynical about elections, but there are ways to
improve the system rather than throwing the whole thing out.”

“We are a community made up of all these different people,
but together we can do something bigger.”

“The goal of all of this is to get people to care more and be
able to participate in the election process more than before.”

“A lot of knitted art is activist art.  It’s a tool for
social action.”

“You have to push against stereotypes when you use any
textile art, especially with knitting.”



About My Guest


Eve Jacobs-Carnahan makes knitted sculpture. Using the comforting
qualities of knitting she explores human interactions with
nature, democracy, and society. 


Eve’s work has been exhibited throughout the United States,
receiving regional and national awards. Her work appears in Lela
Nargi’s survey of knitted art, Astounding Knits! 101 Spectacular
Knitted Creations and Daring Feats. She loves the notion of
knitting as a daring act. When not engaged in such audacious
pursuits, she can be found digging in her garden or cross-country
skiing through the woods. Both activities put her in touch with
the plants and birds that appear in her sculptures.


Eve majored in history at Swarthmore College, and knit several
sweaters along the way. While earning a law degree at the
University of Chicago she could often be found taking a study
break at the Art Institute of Chicago. She lives in Vermont.