Off-Site: Let’s Move the Needle by Shannon Downey – Chicago, IL

We are thrilled to host Shannon Downey, AKA @badasscrossstitch to celebrate her newest release, Let’s Move the Needle: An Activism Handbook for Artists, Crafters, Creatives, and Makers! For this event, Shannon will be joined in conversation by Greta Johnsen. This event will be hosted off-site, at the Swedish American Museum, 5211 N Clark Street.

Please note: This event is free to attend, but registration is required. By registering, you agree to wear a mask during the event, per W&CF’s Covid-19 policies.

Create change in the world with this inspiring guide to social activism, from the artist and craftivist behind Badass Cross Stitch.

Craftivism, or the space where art and activism meet, is a powerful, ever-evolving social justice movement that continues to grow and diversify as more voices and mediums take part in it. In Let’s Move the Needle, Shannon Downey, an outspoken voice in the craftivist movement for over a decade, provides a roadmap and accessible toolkit for burgeoning art activists.

Filled with self-reflective activities, exercises, prompts, and stories, Let’s Move the Needle educates and empowers creatives to center their art around collective action in service of political, social or community issues they are most passionate about; affirming that everyone can be a changemaker and that change-making can be generative, enjoyable, and a bit sassy!

Shannon Downey is the founder of Badass Cross Stitch and Seriously Badass Women, and is an artist, activist, craftivist, community builder, and general instigator. Her work moves people from passive consumers of art into engaged creators and leverages craft-based art forms to bring people together, present opportunities to transition from makers to change makers, and inspire radical hope for what is possible. Her award-winning work can be found in galleries, museums, and private collections around the world and has been featured in outlets including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Atlas Obscura, Fast Company, and i-D, and books including Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Signs of Resistance: A Visual History of Protest in America. She is on the faculty at Columbia College Chicago and currently lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Greta Johnsen is an interviewer, podcast host, and book person. She is the co-host of HBO’s Official Game of Thrones Podcast and writes the GRETAGRAM newsletter on Substack. For eleven years, she hosted WBEZ’s Nerdette podcast, an interview show with a book club. She can also be heard on podcasts like Pop Culture Happy Hour and City Cast Chicago. In her free time, she likes to read as many books as possible, cook food that is only occasionally photogenic, knit squishy apparel, and hang out with her corgi.

Accessibility: This event will be hosted at the Swedish American Museum, which is a wheelchair accessible space. Masks are required. If you have questions, access needs, or need ASL-interpretation, please email events@womenandchildrenfirst.com no later than 14 days before the event.