Abstract
This article investigates wellbeing and mindfulness within contemporary art and craft practice, exploring initial introductions by Jon Kabat-Zinn of mindfulness practices into modern westernised medicine as a group or independent outlet. 21st Century sociological observations suggest we are infected by the ‘Hurry Virus’ (Kickbusch, 2012). Studies into mindfulness practices through established services such as the NHS and Arts and Minds show how crafts can be used as a tool for slowing down pace of making/doing, influencing overall wellbeing. Mindful Stitch is a community derived workshop exploring hand embroidery as a mindful practice, using methods of social inclusion and outrospective empathy. Independent mindful craft practitioners, Kathryn Vercillo and Tara Jon Manning, show the benefits of mindfulness knit and crochet practices. Mindful Stitch addresses the gap in the research regarding hand embroidery as a mindful craft practice, catering for a wide audience, additionally welcomed to the 2013 conference The Subversive Stitch: Revisited, at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Highlights
This article explores the contextual positioning of mindfulness art and craft practices in a community and personal frame of reference
Research into the importance of societal wellbeing has led to the introduction of mindfulness practices within westernised medicine during the latter part of the 20th Century and 21st Century
My own practice has been led through confrontation of this distinct gap in the research and with a personal gravitation towards crafts as an outlet for stress, anxiety and depression. This informs both my independent mindfulness practices and Mindful Stitch, a community derived workshop positioned under the umbrella of health and mental wellbeing, using my position as a researcher and practitioner to facilitate public opportunities and mediate the relationship between hand embroidery and mindfulness meditative techniques
Summary
This article explores the contextual positioning of mindfulness art and craft practices in a community and personal frame of reference. This informs both my independent mindfulness practices and Mindful Stitch, a community derived workshop positioned under the umbrella of health and mental wellbeing, using my position as a researcher and practitioner to facilitate public opportunities and mediate the relationship between hand embroidery and mindfulness meditative techniques.
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