Counterfeit Crochet Project

Submitted by the_mklee on 7 May 2008 - 6:13pm. Categorized As:

Have you heard about the Counterfeit Crochet Project? It's a collaborative art project organized by conceptual artist Stephanie Syjuco.

You can watch a video of her online at:
http://www.kqed.org/arts/people/spark/profile.jsp?id=22692

And for teachers, there is an educator guide to go with that story.

If you want to participate in the project, you can find out more info here:
http://www.stephaniesyjuco.com/

ps also for those in the Bay Area, you can see some of these purses at YBCA until June 29, 2008:
http://www.ybca.org/tickets/production.aspx?performanceNumber=4024

yah for crochet in museums!!

Submitted by the_mklee on 7 May 2008 - 6:23pm.

Thanks for sharing this! I think it's the coolest, and I may just attempt one myself! I have been to the YBCA before and enjoyed the exhibits.

mad for crochet!

Submitted by sarahcrit on 8 May 2008 - 6:04am.

Odd. She is exploiting the bad stereotype of crochet to make a not very clear point. It insults crochet. Despite that, some of the bags are attractive. Were the makers allowed to use name-brand, prestige yarns while putting down prestige products?

Submitted by pauline3 on 8 May 2008 - 8:17am.

Pauline, I have been thinking about your comment on this art project, and I do agree with you that some of the bags look very nice in crochet. When I first looked at the project, I did feel as though crochet was being slighted too. We can not deny that crochet has a certain working class charm, and I think Stephanie Syjuko is using that image of crochet to make her point. She did not create the stereotype. I surfed around and looked for some of those designer handbags and their pricetags. One was actually $15,000!! I think the point of the project is very clearly poking fun at the extravagance of high fashion. I will never be able to afford a Prada handbag. I think it would be funny to walk around town with one I made myself!

Submitted by sarahcrit on 9 May 2008 - 4:55am.

thanks sarahcrit-

i created a knock-off of one that i found online that was *on sale* for $995, which was ironically enough called "the hobo bag." and it did crack me up to carry it around town :D

Submitted by the_mklee on 9 May 2008 - 10:51am.

i don't see it that way at all. i think that she's using humor to address political issues. and the point isn't to make unattractive bags -- it's art.

as for the yarn, the makers could use whatever yarns they wanted to.

Submitted by the_mklee on 8 May 2008 - 11:56am.

Nope, still don't buy it. "Art" is an excuse for a lot of behaviors.

Submitted by pauline3 on 8 May 2008 - 3:23pm.

oh gosh, i wasn't trying to "sell" it to you. just stating my opinion, which i think is very important in art -- having your own opinion about it :D

art would be very boring if everyone thought the same about it and didn't discuss it. so thanks for letting me know yours!

Submitted by the_mklee on 8 May 2008 - 5:21pm.