DIY: A Revolution in Handicrafts
Society for Contemporary Craft
Pittsburgh, PA
September 10 - March 26, 2011
This major exhibition includes works by 16 contemporary artists from the US, Canada, and England and explores issues relating to politics, environmentalism, community and a redefining of a producer/consumer relationship. Through this organization-wide exhibition—presented in the main galleries, SCC’s alternative exhibition space EAT: An Art Space About Food, the Studio, and the Store—audiences can better understand the DIY movement, what it represents, and who is making it happen.
Evolving out of the need for cost-saving lifestyles, DIY (or “Do It Yourself”) emerged in the US as a concept in the 1950s, took root as a definitive subculture in urban centers during the 1970s and could be identified as an international movement
by the 1990s. DIY and indie-craft has evolved and matured over the past decade with little crossover into or support from the established craft world. While still at the margins of the mainstream contemporary craft field, DIY represents a young audience, new energy, and a potential future direction for the field. Essential elements of this movement are through its association with social and political commentary, while at the same time emphasizing the development of strong, local communities, and environmentally responsible living.
