young people creating change in their communities
campaign : Grenfell Tower
Grenfell Tower
The derelict shell of Grenfell Tower still haunts the skyline of London. Asher's campaign, which looked at the story of its residents, remains relevant as it continues to be a major injustice that needs attention.
It’s a great example of the full campaign process, especially making as Asher skillfully creates an art installation which uses the survivors' own words to talk about this sensitive issue.
Sometimes the right words already exist. It's simply a matter of curating them for your audience alongside some striking visuals.
Like the ruins of Grenfell Tower on the London skyline, Asher's miniature Grenfell Tower is also very visually striking.
Lined with printed metals it features a coin slot at the top of the tower but rather than staying inside the box, the coin shoots back out.
Asher made her campaign in the weeks after the fire and the aim was to highlight the alleged claims of donations not actually reaching survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire.
During the Making for Change showcase this was a powerful combination alongside stories from the survivors which were dotted around the workshop table and the walls.
Altogether the installation demonstrated that those affected are real people, not numbers or statistics.
Your Turn To Make
An artwork can create a powerful statement about your campaign. Asher chose to focus on the the tower and campaigner Mahnaz made a giant teapot as the centrepiece for her Tea4Change campaign. What object could you choose to symbolise your campaign and what materials would it be made from?
Asher draws attention to the statements of survivors. Who needs to be heard in your campaign? Can you weave their perspective into your work? Always remember to credit the person whose words you have used.
Craftivist Sarah Corbett uses cross stitch to draw attention to words, ideas and statistics. Artist and activist Carrie Reichardt uses text, murals, ceramics and screen-printing.
Check out Seleena Laverne Daye’s film and the causes she is passionate about for more ideas around bringing different voices into a campaign.
A Curator's Perspective
It feels that at the centre of Asher's campaign is the idea of trust, a feeling that is arguably dwindling in our society with 'fake news' and 'post-truth'. As we place a coin in the model, we expect the coin to stay in. When it doesn't, we feel a bit wrong-footed.
It's the same for all our intentions in society. Now more than ever it's essential to combat misinformation and hold people to account for their actions.
For ideas on how to implement this in your campaign, why not look at our craftivism manifesto?
Pause for Thought
Passion for tackling an emotional social issue can often come with difficulty - and that's okay. Many craftivists find the making process useful for their own mental health. Plus, focusing on the making process with clever concepts like Asher's can also make presenting your campaigns easier.
If you need a little help with feelings that come up from the making process, a mentor can be a safe person to talk to. We have some tips on finding or recognising a mentor here.
want more? - check out the scrapbook
