Chicago Creatives: Meet ‘Craftivist’ Shannon Downey

Chicago Creatives: Meet ‘Craftivist’ Shannon Downey
Shannon Downey, a self-described "craftivist," stops by Reset to discuss her art and activism on Dec. 10, 2019. Jason Marck / WBEZ
Chicago Creatives: Meet ‘Craftivist’ Shannon Downey
Shannon Downey, a self-described "craftivist," stops by Reset to discuss her art and activism on Dec. 10, 2019. Jason Marck / WBEZ

Chicago Creatives: Meet ‘Craftivist’ Shannon Downey

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Seven years ago, Shannon Downey came across a Star Trek pattern for cross stitching and she was instantly hooked. What started out as a relaxing hobby quickly grew into a platform to express her thoughts around issues of racial injustice, gun violence and feminism.

Reset talks to Downey about her journey as a “craftivist” and how she threads together art and activism in her work.

GUEST: Shannon Downey, craftivist and director of development at Asian Americans Advancing Justice Chicago