Counterfeit Crochet Project

the_mklee wrote

on May 7, 2008 7:13 PM

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

http://www.kqed.org/arts/people/spark/profile.jsp?id=22692

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

http://www.stephaniesyjuco.com/

the_mklee wrote

on May 7, 2008 7:23 PM

http://www.ybca.org/tickets/production.aspx?performanceNumber=4024

yah for crochet in museums!!

MsBusyFingers wrote

on May 8, 2008 7:04 AM

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!

PaulineL wrote

on May 8, 2008 9:17 AM

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?

the_mklee wrote

on May 8, 2008 12:56 PM

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.

PaulineL wrote

on May 8, 2008 4:23 PM

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

the_mklee wrote

on May 8, 2008 6:21 PM

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!

MsBusyFingers wrote

on May 9, 2008 5:55 AM

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!

the_mklee wrote

on May 9, 2008 11:51 AM

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