Pleasure Objects

Fiber artists Alyssa Arney and Liz Flynn will be hosting two crochet workshops in conjunction with the Pleasure Objects exhibition on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at Gallery 211. These workshops will provide attendees with the opportunity to learn the basics of crochet and begin work on their very own crochet projects. By the end of each workshop, attendees will leave with the skills and tools needed for them to complete their crochet pieces. We don’t want these workshops to be one-shot events; we aim to inspire people to take home their hook and yarn and continue to build upon the skills they learned with us! Join us for Crochet Workshop #1 on April 30th at 1pm and for Crochet Workshop #2 on May 21st from 1 to 6pm. What’s so great about crochet? It’s relaxing! Crocheting and other crafting activities can be meditative and relaxing for many, allowing a feeling of productivity without extreme mental strain. Crocheting is a great way to relieve stress and reduce anxiety. It’s also a wonderful way to alleviate boredom. It’s empowering. Being able to express yourself through craft and art is a wonderful experience. Knowing that you have the skills to make something from scratch for yourself and others builds self esteem and autonomy. Crocheting can be financially empowering as well. Many crocheters sell their handmade creations at local markets and online. It requires “real world” skills. Crocheting is not simply mastering the motor skills of using hook and yarn. Crocheting helps with the development of project planning skills. Any crochet project, no matter how small, requires visualizing an idea, planning the necessary steps, working consistently, and creating a finished project. It builds community! Knitting and crochet circles and workshops (like ours!) are amazingly close knit (forgive the pun) yet open groups where people can make new friends and meet with others who have common interests. Crocheting and other crafting practices also have strong online communities, where people can connect and share ideas internationally. Learning to crochet also gives fiber artists a feeling of being tied to the traditions and cultures of generations before them, and can inspire them to pass on the practice of crocheting to future community members.