Pack Rat wants you to tell us what you need and we’ll take heed and lead you in the right direction for perfection. See what we’re saying? We’re not playin’, so stop delayin’ and make us your natural selection.

It’s that great time of year again, East Coast boys and girls. The Brooklyn Renegade Craft Fair’s getting ready to punch you in the face with it’s cool-factor, so brace yourself. Running through the whole weekend–from June 6 & 7 and free and open to the public, they make it almost impossible to say no. But why are you trying to resist the siren song of indie craft anyway? Just give it up already! And, once you’ve given in to your need to see unusual, exotic, handmade goo-gaws, keep on the look out for our friends at Meow Meow Tweet. They’re fragrant handmade soaps will have you purring in no time.

photo copyright by Meow Meow Tweet

In Pack Rat’s opinion, fun is only fun if you saying twice.

So I’ve come out of hibernation just in time for a metric ton of flashy, lush, boogalicious of indie craft shows to be starting up. I’ll keep you abreast of the goings-on as they go on, or at least as I hear about them. Up this weekend is the Twist Fair in Northampton, MA. As if you needed an excuse to visit Hippie Central, USA? Dig $3 out of the couch, hand it over, and spend either today or tomorrow fondling the handmade goods: note cards, recycled bags, organic tees. And probably as much hemp gear as you can shake a stick at. And, as a double bonus, you can sing The Twist by Frightened Rabbit the entire time you’re there…and you’ll look only half crazy.

Pack Rat pledges allegiance to the United States of Craft

If you have been reading this blog, or have in any other way been clued in to the arena of indie craft, then you’ve probably heard the buzz surrounding Handmade Nation, an independent film directed by the co-owner of Paper Boat Boutique & Gallery , Faythe Levine, with Michaela O’Herlihy as the director of photography. I was fortunate enough (and for once in my life, on the ball) to see the New York Premier last Thursday, February 12th. And what an exciting event it was!

The premier was hosted by the Museum of Arts and Design in their new Columbus Circle digs. The show was sold out, but the viewing space was on the small side which made the atmosphere cozy and intimate. Around the room, it was a veritable who’s who of people in the D.I.Y./craft world. I spotted Andrew Wagner (Editor in chief for American Craft magazine) right away, looking stylish as always in a navy fleece and the only accessory a man ever needs: his handle bar mustache. And I just about fell out of my seat when I realized that I was only a seat and an aisle away from THE Debbie Stoller of BUST magazine fame.

But obviously, I didn’t come to rub elbows with celebrities (well…maybe just a little). What I really came for was to see the film that takes a loving look at a subject near and dear to me, new wave craft. As first time film makers, Levine and O’Herlihy did an excellent job. They cover a large swath of creators in the field, interviewing a bevy of people who use the whole spectrum of materials. From Nikki McClure’s paper cuttings, to Jenny Hart’s famous embroidery, to Deb Dormody’s book making, the range of talent that Levine taps is huge; not to mention the personalities. The guys who run the ubiquitous buyolympia.com, the original online source for quality indie crafts, are pretty hilarious as they describe what it was like to  package shipments while standing up for nine hours at a clip, for four months before they could afford to get chairs. And the down to earth, straight talk about the nature of the relationship between the artist and consumer from Andrew Scott and Breezy Culbertson, of the San Francisco shop Needles and Pens, is insightful and a bit edgy (in a refreshing way).

Levine and O’Herlihy are wise in opening up the forum of D.I.Y. discussion to not only those people who make the precious and precocious trinkets that we all devour, but also to the purveyors (those who love and believe in the artists enough to hock their goods but aren’t necessarily part of the creative process themselves), as well as magazine editors, presidents of organizations, and an assortment of other people who exist on the periphery of this cultural movement. It’s heartening to have everyone’s suspicions confirmed; that this new era in crafts is being driven by socially conscious creators and consumers alike, who turn to indie craft for complicated reasons, not just for a cute owl emblem. Certain themes keep resurfacing with everyone Levine speaks to. The idea of anti-mass production, of a one of a kind sensibility; the concept of reused materials, re-purposed items, and provisions used completely; and a freedom/expansion from the claustrophobic world of  “fine art” are repeating motifs.

In the end, however, the film left me wanting more. There is such a massive consensus among everyone involved about what the movement means and why it’s occurring, that there doesn’t seem to be any narrative tension to move the film along. The aforementioned ideas reappear over and over again, almost to the person. I kept asking myself as I viewed Handmade Nation, “if I was a complete neophyte, with little to no interest in this subject, how would I feel about this movie?” And I found myself wishing for something more inviting, more compelling for outsiders. Levine takes a democratic approach, inviting all of her guests to have equal screen time. Which is exactly what a good friend should do…but maybe not a director. Interviewees with real screen presence, insightful points of view, and captivating stories are dutifully left behind in favor of some elaborate, yet drab discussions of favorite pieces, fun craft shows, etc.

And while the truth is that in indie craft, you end up seeing a lot of the same images over and over again, (someone in the film commented that the concern is always, how many bird and apple printed things can people buy?) as someone pretty familiar with the topic, I was hoping for more innovation, for more surprises. Although there is still plenty to be said for the pieces featured in Handmade Nation. I especially fell in love with the segment on Knitta, the guerrilla group of urban knit “taggers.” And Mandy Greer’s crochet installation pieces are so dramatic and enchanting that you feel like your stepping through the rabbit hole while you’re looking at them. (Side note: Greer was on a discussion panel after the film. While explaining what place her crochet has in her life, she mentioned that while she is creating a piece, she carries it everywhere with her, working on it in little increments all day long until it is done. And in this way, her life gets woven into the larger picture of what she is creating. I thought that was such a wonderful idea.)

Ultimately, however, these small issues do little to mar the whole. Handmade Nation is an exhilarating portrait of a movement propelling forward,  seeming to gain in power as our country wakes up to the realization that the gold cow of consumerism is a crappy false idol. Hopefully Levine and O’Herlihy can help introduce a new path.

Pack Rat is now powered by steam…coming off the top of our hot cocoa

Last Saturday saw the first annual Steam Punk Theme Show at the Brooklyn Indie Market. We broke out the camera and headed to Smith Street to catch the action. Due to traffic, we rolled in right at 2 pm, just in time for the fashion show. The small red and white circus tent setup in Carroll Gardens was jam packed with spectators and looky-loos, but even though it was five past, there was no ethereal music, no trussed up men and women marching down the catwalk, no murmur from the crowd. What gives? we asked ourselves.

Politely as possible, we pushed toward the front. There a young man dressed in a long, black, wool coat; pocket watch; and vest (and don’t worry, those of you who are faint of heart. I am sure he was wearing some kind of pants as well, but I didn’t get an opportunity to see them) was pacing the catwalk, describing the history of the modern Steam Punk movement and it’s fashion sensibility. I discovered, after the fact, that this dapper young man was G.D. Falksen, resident aficionado and master’s candidate studying, among other things, the Steam Punk movement.

Although the information that Mr. Falksen relayed sounded pretty interesting, I only caught about half of it, as he was pacing up and down the catwalk as he spoke, and his voice drifted off as he moved away from where we were standing. Also, he did go on a bit, and after a while most of us in the crowd were shifting our weight and checking our watches. I mean, history is all well and good, but we came for fashion, damn it!

Fortunately for us, a few people in front got tired of waiting and shuffled out. We tried to sneak in as close as possible, when finally, the music started and Victorian styled gowns paired with modern day accessories, velveteen jackets with aviator pants, and huge, Dark Crystal-looking headpieces all came down the run way. There was one outfit in particular that I adored: an electric indigo gown with billowing hood which, once the model pulled it down, revealed a shocking red lining and also an avian headpiece. There are a few pictures below, but I will warn that because of the crowd jostling, they are a bit out of focus.

Now, one thing I did manage to catch from Falksen, is that there is a fine line between Victorian costume and Steam Punk fashion (the definition of the latter seeming to hinge on whether it involves something technological) . However, after watching the show and eyeing our fellow market-goers, I would say that the fine line is actually between Steam Punk fashion and plain old Hot Topic Gothika. Some things, like floppy crochet wristlets, and boob smooshing corsets were boring at best and tacky at worst. But pleasantly, there were also a strong handful of stand-outs from the crowd.

The aptly named SteamedPunk.com crew were plying their wares, including their assortment of “Cranial Protective Apparatus,” or army helmets adorned with gears and cogs. While their merch was a little costume-y, it did have a great sense of humor and an honest, eye-catching quality that set them apart. Also, Ami Nyitray Designs had a wonderfully captivating curio collection of alligator heads in glass jewelry boxes, daguerreotype necklaces, and tunics silk screened with an assortment of creepy crawlies.

To sum up, like any counter culture movement, some of the Steam Punk members had more interesting points of view then others, but overall, it was a great way to shake up a rainy afternoon in Brooklyn.

As a side note: if you are ever in the area, we have to recommend the cupcakes at Downtown Atlantic Bakery, at 364 Atlantic Ave. I got the chocolate cake with chocolate ganache icing and pink and orange sprinkles, and Paul got the yellow cake and vanilla butter cream icing. They were both DIVINE and so huge that I couldn’t even finish mine in one sitting (which says a lot for me).

And (last thing, I swear) while you’re shopping indie at the market and cramming your face full of cupcake, top off your day by wandering down to 108 Wyckoff St. and you will see the most delightful house, completely covered in mosaic from garden path to second story window. It was enough burst of color to break through the gray of our rainy day.

Pack Rat magazine is boo-tiful

Note: Dear readers, this article was slated to appear in the next issue of Pack Rat. Due to time and budget constraints, we have chosen to post it here. Enjoy!

They say that great minds think alike. Perhaps they should also say that great hands make alike, because that seems to be the case with crafters Betsy Greer and Faythe Levine. In 2004 Levine (co-proprietor of Paper Boat Boutique & Gallery) came across Greer’s website, craftivism.com and found there a social concern, as well as a creative drive that mirrored her own. Since then, she has been paying close attention the use of craft methods and materials playing a role in politically motivated art work and projects.

This autumn, Levine has the opportunity to bring that awareness to the rest of us. She is the guest curator of Craftivism: Reclaiming Craft and Creating Community, running from October 9 to October 30 at Lawton Gallery at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay campus. The exhibition showcases the work of such artists as Kate Bingaman-Burt, Amy Carlton, Cinnamon Cooper, Sabrina Gschwandtner, Jennifer Marsh, Cat Mazza, Handmade Nation, Lisa Solomon, Stephanie Syjuco, and Melissa Vogley Woods.

“Creative expression has always been a way to express resistance, voice opinion and raise awareness. I believe the work coming out of our generation is a part of a time-line of socially aware artists and makers,” Levine says. The pieces she has picked for this show are from artists working at the intersection of craft, activism, feminism, environmentalism, DIY, street culture, and more.

Both Levine and Greer continue to give a voice to a new wave of crafters who are using their hands as much as their mouths when they have something to say. Levine’s book (co-authored with Courtney Heimerl), titled Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design is available now as she prepares to show the accompanying documentary of the same name in the coming months. And Greer, who is featured in Levine’s book, has her own book coming out in November, called Knitting for Good!: A Guide to Creating Personal, Social, and Political Change Stitch by Stitch. Together, they are boosting the world of handmade goods up from personally functional, to socially utilitarian.

Read more of our interview with Faythe Levine

photos from Lawton Gallery at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay