New Hampshire Humanities presents Knit Democracy Together
See all news
New Hampshire Humanities invites the public to participate in Knit Democracy Together, a collaborative project combining knitting circles and discussion about the U.S. electoral system, held in locations around the state from March-June. All events are free and open to the public, with pre-registration requested at https://www.nhhumanities.org/knit-democracy-together. Materials will be provided, and no prior knitting or crocheting experience is necessary. Democracy Together is made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities' United We Stand: Connecting Through Culture initiative.
Recent elections have been plagued by allegations of voter fraud and there is growing distrust in the legitimacy of our democratic institutions. Knit Democracy Together (KDT), a project created by Eve Jacobs-Carnahan, will demystify the electoral process and your rights as a voter as it engages citizen crafters in building a collaborative sculpture of the New Hampshire State House. At each event, artist and former election lawyer Eve Jacobs-Carnahan will give a nonpartisan presentation and lead a discussion about the electoral system, helping attendees gain confidence in recognizing and responding to misinformation in preparation for the 2024 presidential election.
Attendees will contribute to a collaborative sculpture of the NH State House made of the knitted and crocheted pieces stitched at each of the circles around the state, a visual representation of individuals’ participation in lawmaking and the democratic process. Events have already taken place in Dover and Monroe. The completed sculpture will be unveiled and exhibited at the NH State Library in Concord, alongside participants’ stories about voting and participating in the electoral process.
Details and pre-registration in the links provided below:
Thursday, March 14, 5:30 pm:
Representing All Voices: Gerrymandering and Ranked Choice Voting
Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon Street E #1, Laconia RSVP
Wednesday, March 20, 5:30 pm:
Counting the Votes: The Process, the People, and the Electoral College
Conway Public Library, 15 Greenwood Avenue, Conway RSVP
Thursday, April 11, 5:30 pm:
Representing All Voices: Gerrymandering and Ranked Choice Voting
Historical Society of Cheshire County, 246 Main Street, Keene RSVP
Thursday, April 18, 5:30 pm:
Counting the Votes: The Process, the People, and the Electoral College
Weeks Memorial Library, 128 Main Street, Lancaster RSVP
Save the date: Thursday, June 13 at 1:00 pm:
Knit Democracy Together Exhibit Opening
NH State Library, 20 Park Street, Concord
About the facilitator: Prior to becoming a full-time visual artist, Eve Jacobs-Carnahan served as a lawyer in the Vermont Attorney General’s Office where she specialized in election law. She was the lead trial attorney defending Vermont’s campaign finance law in Randall v. Sorrell, decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2006. Eve makes narrative sculptures incorporating knitting. Using the comforting quality of yarn and the charming attraction of birds, her sculptures tell allegorical stories about society. Her artwork is featured in Astounding Knits! 101 Spectacular Knitted Creations and Daring Feats by Lela Nargi (Voyageur Press 2011). She gives talks on the history of knitted art and the use of knitting by artists engaged in social action. Eve was named a 2021 Creative Community Fellow New England by National Arts Strategies and the Barr Foundation. She earned a B.A. with Honors from Swarthmore College and a J.D. from the University of Chicago. Learn more at www.knitdemocracy.org.
For questions and more information, visit www.nhhumanities.org/knit-democracy-together or contact New Hampshire Humanities at (603) 224-4071 or email programs@nhhumanities.org.
Celebrating its 50th year, New Hampshire Humanities (NHH) funds and supports programs that inspire curiosity, foster civil dialogue, and explore big questions. An independent, statewide nonprofit, NHH made possible last year 1,206 free public programs and digital broadcasts reaching 33,470 residents, in partnership with 414 organizations in 181 communities, to engage all citizens, regardless of their age or educational level, with the humanities. For more information, please visit www.nhhumanities.org.
