things to do :: crafts for a cause

guest post by Sam Bradd

Event: Crafts for a Cause - 3rd annual craft fair to support social justice struggles
Date / Time: Saturday, December 4th, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Venue: Rhizome Café, 317 East Broadway, Vancouver
Cost: $2 admission

Who we are: Danielle, Sam, and Lisa from Rhizome Café
What is it: 3rd annual Crafts for a Cause event
What we’re doing: bringing together 15 organizations and artists for a craft fair that supports social justice struggles

Three years ago, Danielle and Lisa decided that the city needed a craft fair that would highlight the crafts and art in support of local social justice organizations. And where better to hold it than Rhizome Café on Broadway, since Rhizome hosts community meetings, fundraisers, events, and social events throughout the year.

On Saturday, December 4th Crafts for a Cause attendees can shop for tshirts, prints, posters, coffee, ethical textiles, buttons, and other crafts made by organizations and artists. To support the ongoing work of the participating organizations, partial proceeds from artists' sales are shared amongst the groups. If your significant other insists they’d rather wait outside than come into a craft fair, you can mention that Rhizome is a licensed establishment too.

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No One is Illegal, The Purple Thistle Centre, Redwire Native Youth Media, Leave Out Violence, The Organizing Centre for Social and Economic Justice / Defendamos Nuestra Tierra Artesanias, Prison Justice Day Committee, Indigenous Action Movement, Rhizome Café, Café Justicia, la mano ethical textiles, Favianna Rodriguez,, Jada-Gabrielle Pape, Sam Bradd Designs, Afuwa Granger, Danielle Gauld, fierce green creations

Sam Bradd - feature #43

Name: Sam Bradd
Website links: Website | Etsy | Twitter

What do you make?
I use two antique letterpresses to make paper goods including prints, calendars and labels. I also print kitchen textiles such as tea towels and napkins. My imagery centers around food and sustainability.

What or who inspires you?
Right now I feel inspired by: nature, bikes, sharing food, people working for social justice, and by people who are protecting our agricultural space. I read independent investigative journalism to be re-inspired - to personally keep learning and participating in ways that build resiliency, community, and justice.



How did you get started?
I took a miniature book course at Emily Carr in 2004. When I walked into the letterpress studio, I just was mesmerized by the whole process. It brought many of my favorite artistic things together. Afterwards, I borrowed time on other people's letterpresses, kept learning other printmaking techniques, and bought a small press in 2008. I found my bigger letterpress (Chandler and Price 12x18) this summer through a Craigslist ad. I was happy to rescue it before it was melted for cast iron frying pans.

What are your favourite materials to work with?
Paper and more paper. I collect paper of all types, from small scraps of wrapping paper to the 2 new boxes of FSC-certified paper currently stored in the bedroom. For the letterpress I use polymer plates, metal type, and my favorite is wood type.

What is the hardest and your most favourite part of crafting?
The hardest part of making art is knowing when it's finished - or when it gets to a stage that I'm happy with. My favorite part is hitting that groove in my creative process where I don't even know what I'm doing next- my hands just go and things build in front of my eyes.



List 5 of your favourite links and why you like them
Favianna Rodriguez is a poster artist. Her "pieces reflect national and international grassroots struggles, and tell a history of social justice through graphics."

Can't imagine this city without the Rhizome Cafe. It's a great community-focused place. Rhizome hosts the annual Crafts for a Cause event in December too.

Annie Leonard, the genius behind The Story of Stuff. Her videos are creative and sharp. New titles include cap and trade, bottled water, and (coming soon) electronics.

Daily eye candy comes from Drawn.ca.

Chris Tyrell, local arts consultant, has an excellent book and blog for visual artists in Canada called Artist Survival Skills.



Do you have any advice for those in the biz?
Like all things, your art will change and that's okay. Have a realistic retail price that gives you a realistic wholesale price too. Keep an accurate log of your art inventory and sales, whether it's in a notebook or a spreadsheet. Learn about taxes.



Do you consider yourself an artist or a crafter?
The tradition of letterpress was once a trade and a commercial practice, and it has become artistic. So I'd say artist. But I like being in the grey area between artists and craft(ers).

(photo images courtesy of Sam Bradd)

If you are interested in being featured, please send us an email at info(at)gotcraft(dot)com.

Check out our past features...
Katrinshine - feature #42
Penelope Brown - feature #41
Laura Bucci Handmade - feature #40
Track and Field Designs - feature #39
Irit Sorokin Designs - feature #38
Clockwork Fantastica - feature #37
Divesin - feature #36
Flight Path Designs - feature #35
Plantscapes - feature #34
Olive - feature #33
Uncle Phil / Flipside - feature #32
Kim Werker - feature #31
Haiiku - feature #30
Smidgebox Designs - feature #29
heyday design - feature #28
Smeeta - feature #27
ACageyBee - feature #26
Maked - feature #25
Firefly Notes - feature #24
Florence Ann - feature #23
Him Creations - feature #22
Jenny Hart - feature #21
district thirty - feature #20
tinywarbler designs - feature #19
telly designs - feature #18
Cabin + Cub - feature #17
Rachel Hobson - feature #16
Green Couch Designs - feature #15
Tanis Alexis - feature #14
Sweetie Pie Press - feature #13
Fibre Manipulator - feature #12
Sam Made - feature #11
All Things Paper - feature #10
Owl + Pussycat - feature #9
Bliss in a teacup - feature #8
It's Your Life - feature #7
Faythe Levine - feature #6
Coco Cake Cupcakes - feature #5
pomomama design - feature #4
GroovyGlassGirl - feature #3
Bueno Style - feature #2
The Beautiful Project - feature #1

got craft :: the men

Clockwise from top left: Simpsonelli Designs, Frankenstrap, Locomotive Clothing, Sam Bradd

It's no surprise that crafting and DIY has always been lady oriented. Most of the people buying and selling at craft fairs are comprised mainly of women with the men waiting outside with the coffee cups. Well, times seem to be changing...


Left to right: Bliss in a Teacup and Olive Bath and Body

We received more applications from men vendors than ever before. Looking forward to checking then out at the upcoming Got Craft holiday event.