CRAFTING A NEW IDENTITY

Andi Crown Photography

I am a total extrovert; it was one of the many confronting things I learnt about myself over this year’s two (TBC) lockdowns. There really is not a single part of me that is introverted... maybe my belly button, but even then, I am considering getting it pierced so I can show it off at parties.

Performing in front of crowds is the only thing I know how to do well. I would relate my talents to that of the humble Koosh-ball; I have no useful purpose, I’m no good for sports, I’m just mildly entertaining for 15 minutes.

So, you can imagine how the ‘red wedding’ of gig cancellations this year was a true shock to my core identity. I was left starving for attention and had no way to get it, no thanks to my boyfriend who refused to watch my one-man show of Polly-Anna. I resorted to what many live performers had to in these, and I’m sure I’m the first to coin, “unprecedented times”. I turned to making content online.

But my online calling was something I never envisioned for myself.

RUGBY!

I’m kidding. It will take more than a global pandemic to get me to engage with that sport. It was the craft of felting. Yes, the slow, mind- numbingly boring process of interweaving wool fibres together with a needle to create little woollen objects.

I would film myself on Instagram stabbing wool with the needle and chatting to my online audience, like a camper, male Martha Stewart. The result? Thousands of new Instagram followers, hundreds of needle wounds to my fingers, and a glorious hat made from felt adorned with all the little objects I had created.

Each item, like a charm, represented some sort of significance to our lockdown experience. I made a tiny Dr Ashley Bloomfield and Jacinda, sourdough in a crockpot, the Zoom logo, hand sanitiser, toilet paper, and even a tiny version of me felting – how meta.

So, what became of the hat, I don’t hear you ask? Well, it was acquired by the Auckland Museum for their official collection and my official portrait of the hat, acquired by none other than Te Papa. I know, I can’t believe it either.

That’s the thing about labels, while they allow us to define ourselves, they can hold us back from what else we are capable of. I always said I had no practical skills, now I’ve crafted “precious taonga” which is being held in our country’s two largest museums.

How unprecedented.

Chris has joined the Avenues team as a regular columnist. You can find more from Chris, here.