Tal Fitzpatrick - The Doctor of Craftivism [NX106]

In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Tal Fitzpatrick.

Tal is a socially engaged artist and craftivist whose quilts and textile projects blend creativity with activism.

We talk about her artistic journey from early influences, including her grandmother’s politically charged textile works, through to her PhD in craftivism as DIY citizenship. Tal shares stories of working in disaster recovery communities, how that shaped her understanding of art’s power, and the origins of major projects like the PM Please Quilt and the global Universal Declaration of Human Rights Quilt Project.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:30 – Crafting Public Conversations: The City Speaks

00:03:58 – Textiles and Feminism: A Soft Approach to Activism

00:06:50 – The Power of Subversion in Craftivism

00:09:38 – Engaging the Audience: Craft as a Trojan Horse

00:12:33 – Community Engagement: Voices in Public Space

00:15:22 – The Journey to PhD: Craftivism and DIY Citizenship

00:18:11 – Art as a Tool for Recovery: Stories from Disaster

00:20:52 – The Impact of Craft: Agency and Empowerment

00:23:43 – Human Rights and Craftivism: The UDHR Quilt Project

00:26:19 – Legacy and Generational Influence in Art

00:29:09 – The Intersection of Craft and Activism

00:31:35 – Navigating the Complexities of Social Change

00:34:29 – The Role of Textiles in Political Discourse

00:36:57 – Crafting a Better Future: The Ripple Effect of Art

00:39:45 – The Future of Craftivism

Links:

Website: talfitzpatrick.com

Instagram: talfitzpatrick

UDHR Quilt Project: quilts.moadoph.gov.au

Intro music is Rockin' For Decades by A Minute of Fame via Epidemic Sound.

About NeedleXChange:

NeedleXChange is a conversation podcast with embroidery and textile artists, exploring their process and practice.Hosted by Jamie "Mr X Stitch" Chalmers, it is an in-depth showcase of the best needlework artists on the planet.

Visit the NeedleXChange website: https://www.needl.exchange

Sign up for the NeedleXChange Newsletter here: https://bit.ly/NeedleXChangeNews

And follow Mr X Stitch on all the usual social media channels!

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrxstitch
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrxstitch
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mrxstitch
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjamiechalmers