Activism

Activism with Marianne Forrest, Cara Robinson and Dr Silvia Gullino.

So what is this activism thing? When does research or even making stuff become activism?
There is no protest other than the angry rail against the passage of time, there is no slogan other than "don’t wish your life away" there is no protest other than "don't say you can't".
Why are we so angry? With protest embedded in our culture can we really see the way forward?

Coinciding with the Activism exhibition by Marianne Forrest at The Cass, this research seminar explores activism in performance and design, as a form of research practice.

With peaceful protest movements such as Craftivism… are they effective, or do they show us the way? Addressing these issues through hands-on workshops, considered approaches to speed and slowness, Marianne Forrest's work gains momentum through active participation and analysis of the results of practice, through questioning. Effects of practice, calming, stressing, persistence and patience. It is important to understand the articulate mechanics of the eye/hand/brain relationship. Can active participation in workshops bring about collective motivation and interaction? Can they solve the world's problems?

Cara Robinson is a Design History MA student from the Royal College of Art/V&A about to complete a thesis entitled Digital Craftivism. Her questions interrogate the role of online media and communities in contemporary women's rights activism, the production of objects adorned to perform at feminist activism and discusses the organisation of the spectacle of public activism as a designed object. The project focuses on the Pussy Power Hats seen at the Women's Marches in North America and the UK from January to May 2017.

In the last few years, Dr Silvia Gullino's research has focused on the emergence of civic crowdfunding projects with a particular focus on projects in London. Her work interrogates them as an alternative form of participation, urban development and governance, generated through collaborative actions and interactions between a range of local community groups, with the support of local government agencies.

All are welcome at the research seminars, both from inside and outside The Cass. For more information email Jane Clossick at j.clossick@londonmet.ac.uk and follow us on Twitter for the latest information.