Starred review from December 3, 2021
Printmaker and designer Hewett (Print Pattern Sew) highlights the many contributions of BIPOC crafters--women as well as nonbinary people--in this inspiring collection. Each chapter covers a different aspect of crafting--the business of crafting, crafting as a political statement, crafting as a means of community building--and includes personal essays, profiles drawn from a survey that Hewett distributed in 2019, and in-depth interviews with individual crafters. Many of the interview subjects are well known in the crafting world, and Hewett is an exceptional interviewer who asks insightful questions and isn't afraid to dig deep. The joy that Hewett's subjects find in their craft is moving, and readers will be inspired to seek out these artists' work--and, perhaps, to try something new. VERDICT This work is proof that a crafts book doesn't have to be filled with Instagram-worthy photos or patterns and instructions to inspire and educate. It's a snapshot (and an honest appraisal) of the current moment in the crafting world and a celebration of the creativity and ingenuity of BIPOC crafters. This has the potential to reach outside the crafting sphere and into the wider conversation about social justice. Highly recommended.--Nanette Donohue, Champaign P.L., IL
Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from October 1, 2021
Artist, designer, and teacher Hewett (Print, Pattern, Sew, 2018) has experienced firsthand the erasure and discrimination rampant in the craft and textile world. Black and Indigenous people and People of Color have historically been and are still underrepresented despite the ongoing appropriation and theft of their cultures, traditions, and designs by white creators and companies. Knowing that she wasn't alone in her experiences, Hewett created a survey with the hope of learning more about her fellow women and non-binary textile artists and crafters of color, and of sharing the results in a way that also highlights the work of these artisans. The result is this thorough and engaging book, which includes responses to and analysis of that survey, interviews with individuals, and essays by selected artists. Throughout, it's clear to readers that the gatekeepers who prevent these voices from being more prominent are doing a grave disservice to everyone. The specificity and personal touches that Hewett brings celebrate these amazing artists, their voices, and their works. Readers will enjoy meeting a wealth of artists they may not be familiar with, and hopefully this book will lead to more widespread recognition (and books!) from those featured here.
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