Amid the disheartening news of Trump's re-election as U.S. President, one bright spot remains: the Instagram page of the Tiny Pricks Project. This initiative, started in 2018 by Canada-based American artist and activist Diana Weymar, began when she saw Trump's tweet calling himself a "very stable genius."
Frustrated but struck by the tweet's absurdity, Weymar decided to respond creatively. She stitched the words "I am a very stable genius" onto an old piece of floral needlework from her grandmother, took a photo, and shared it on Instagram.
Soon what began as a single piece turned into a larger project, showcasing how outrageous and nonsensical Trump's words were when stitched onto fabrics like handkerchiefs and tea towels. This art form highlighted the contrast between the angry, violent, and often racist language of his tweets and the delicate, traditional medium of needlework. Soon, Weymar was creating five or six pieces a week.
The project then sparked a movement, drawing participants from all walks of life - students, artists, activists and celebrities around the world - who picked up their own needles to create political embroidery. Over time, the project became a physical archive of Trump's digital outbursts, preserving everything from his screams of "Fake News!" to typos like "Covfefe" and bizarre claims about COVID-19.
Three years of chaos, propaganda, and unfounded conspiracy theories later, the Tiny Pricks Project grew into an international textile protest, featuring nearly 4,000 pieces and contributions from over a thousand participants worldwide.
Weymar had planned to end the project once Trump left office, hoping to embroider the word "end" to close this painful chapter of American history. Yet, the project persisted and expanded, encompassing more quotes and addressing new issues, such as book bans.
One memorable piece featured a quote from horror writer Stephen King, who responded to the news that 23 of his books had been banned from school libraries in Florida - a state with increasingly strict book ban policies - with the remark: "Florida has banned 23 of my books. What the fuck?"
The quote, while darkly humorous, underscored a serious cultural issue.
As the new election cycle began, the project's embroiderers got to work on pieces encouraging voter participation and highlighting Kamala Harris's statements.
These included phrases like "When we fight, we win," "We're not going back," and her response to Trump's violent words directed to Liz Cheney after she stated she was endorsing Harris: "Anyone who uses that kind of violent rhetoric is clearly disqualified and unqualified."
Some embroiderers chose instead to highlight some of the darkest statements linked to Trump's 2024 campaign, such as the Hitler quote by Trump cited in The Atlantic interview with General John F. Kelly, while others created full vignettes.
One, by France-based multimedia artist and illustrator Loren Batt, depicted Trump seated on a throne-like chair with a crown on his head, holding a poster for "Project 2025", a 900-page policy proposal aiming to expand presidential power and enforce an ultra-conservative agenda.
The embroidery included Trump's denial: "I know nothing about Project 2025, I have no idea who is behind it," alongside a quote from Russel Voght stating, "…he is very supportive of what we do."
During the election campaign, more than 500 pieces from the project were displayed at the West Village flagship of Lingua Franca that a few years ago also hosted another exhibition by the project.
This display served as an invitation for people to join "craftivism" and provided a sense of calm amid the tense political climate.
At the moment the Tiny Pricks Project is offering a way to cope with the frustration and anger brought on by news of a second Trump presidency.
Embroiderers have stitched empowering quotes, such as singer Rosanne Cash's "Resist what is about to come. I'm with you," and Kamala Harris's concession speech line, "Here's the thing: Sometimes the fight takes a while."
If you want to learn more about the project check out Weymar's book Crafting a Better World: Inspiration and DIY Projects for Craftivists. The volume showcases thousands of pieces from the project, along with baking recipes, interviews, essays, and crafting guides from contributors like the Guerrilla Girls, New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast, and Pussy Riot founder Nadya Tolokonnikova.
While the saying goes that the pen is mightier than the sword, Weymar and her team prove that the needle is definitely sharper.
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