This Long Thread is turning 1!
A year ago November, author and artist Jen Hewett published This Long Thread, a collection of essays and interviews highlighting the diverse voices of artists of color, working in fiber.
For an author, the journey of a book project begins long before the triumphant moment of publishing. After that momentous day, it is the book’s journey which begins. In the case of a book like This Long Thread, the journey is a life-changer for many.
Join us on the evening of November 17, when author Jen Hewett and three of her interviewees Raquel Busa, Brandi Harper and Chi Nguyen reunite to expose and celebrate the work this book has accomplished in its first year of life. Together we will discuss the impact of books as they land in laps and hands, and how they change minds, re-route lives, redefine norms, and add to an ever-lengthening thread of conversation.
Date:
November 17, 2022
Time:
7 pm – 8:30 pm EST
Location:
Zoom, a link will be sent to participants the day before the event.
Cost: Sliding scale ($0 – $50)
All donations of $50 and above will include a physical copy of the book with free shipping. Please make sure to include your correct shipping address in the notes at checkout. Contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions regarding donations and orders.
Tatter Library is a registered 501(c)3. Our speaker series is part of our community programming and proceeds support the maintenance of our collection. For this event, all ticket proceeds will go towards a scholarship fund for students of color. We would like to make this lecture available to anyone who would like to participate, therefore tickets for this event are sold on a sliding scale. Our suggested donation is $25, but if you wish to pay less or more, you may select a different amount from the drop down menu. As always, we are grateful for your support, which ensures the continuation and preservation of textile knowledge.
**This session will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to all those who register following the live session.
Jen Hewett
Jen Hewett is a printmaker, surface designer, and textile artist. Depending on how you look at it, artist is either Jen’s second or fifth career. With a degree in English Literature from the University of California, Berkeley, she started her working life in education and educational nonprofits. She then briefly ran her own stationery business, took a few detours through business operations, human resources and consulting before becoming a full-time working artist (again). She partly credits the success of her experience running her own creative business to her non-linear (but always interesting) career path.
Even though she’s now decidedly a professional artist, Jen still keeps things interesting by engaging in many different types of projects. She works on personal projects just because she wants to. She runs a successful online shop through which she sells directly to her customers. She writes books. She licenses work to large and small manufacturers and retailers. She sometimes creates illustrations for very large companies.
Jen’s first book, Print, Pattern, Sew: Block Printing Basics + Simple Sewing Projects for an Inspired Wardrobe, was published by Roost Books in May 2018. Her second book, This Long Thread: Women of Color on Craft, Community and Connection, was published by Roost Books in November 2021. Her clients include Anthropologie, Cost Plus World Market, Moda Fabrics, Unilever, and Yelp. Her work has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens, Uppercase, and MSNBC. She also loves talking on podcasts about the very practical business aspects of being an artist, and the challenges (and opportunities) of being an artist of color in fairly undiverse industries.
Jen lives in the Hudson Valley with her rescue dog, Franny.
Featured Artists
Raquel Busa
“What kind of images would have empowered me as a child?” is the question Queer Latinx illustrator Raquel Busa asks herself when she sits down to make art. Raquel strives to create work that represents BIPOC and LGBTQ families. She has illustrated and published three coloring books, including “LGBTQIA + for Kids.”
In 2020, Raquel completed her master’s degree in business management and leadership. That same year, she officially established her business, Maquina 37 LLC, an illustration studio and online shop. Her most popular service are custom portraits of her clients and their families. Her style is playful, nostalgic, and light-hearted. She works in collage, sewing, embroidery, and other traditional and digital mediums.
Brandi Harper
Brandi is an interdisciplinary artist and knitting guide living in Brooklyn, NY. Her practice combines the worlds of knitting, ceramics and writing to share stories of creativity, community building and self care. In her debut book, Knitting for Radical Self-Care, Brandi offers tips and suggestions for carving out time for making, alongside original patterns inspired by revolutionary women of color who have had an immense impact on her life and our world.
Chi Nguyễn
Chi Nguyễn is an interdisciplinary artist who uses textiles and community-engaged practices to reflect on the intersection of identities in the U.S., explore the concept of belonging, and examine her transition to motherhood. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Vogue, Washington Post, Salon, Ms. Magazine, Huffington Post, BusinessWeek, Vice, and Bustle, among others.
Chi also leads narrative change, storytelling, and communications at Einhorn Collaborative, a non-profit foundation working to address the crisis of connection in the U.S. Previously, she was the Managing Director of Strategic Communications at The Bronx Defenders. During her tenure in New York City government, Chi served as a Senior Advisor at the NYC Racial Justice Commission working to dismantle structural racism within the NYC Charter and advance racial equity for New Yorkers. While at the NYC Mayor’s Office, she worked on key Mayoral policies and programs, civic engagement to combat environmental racism, digital accessibility for people with disabilities, and language access for immigrant New Yorkers.
She is based in The Bronx, New York where she lives with her husband, daughter, and their dog, Uni.
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