ABOUT US
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© spins & needles™ 2005-10 productions
Spins & Needles Craft + DJ Night is a creative night out that mixes do-it-yourself projects with funky beats spun by DJs in galleries, bars and other public spaces in Canada and beyond. The event was conceived and created in 2005 by crafter/designer Melanie Yugo and DJ Jason Pelletier.
Known for its alternative take on the nightlife experience, the event travels internationally to cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Halifax, New York, San Francisco, Austin, Chicago and London (UK) and has collaborated with significant players in art and cultural scenes such as Maker Faire, Renegade Craft Fair and Etsy Labs. Spins & Needles played a large role in inspiring Canada's national art institution, the National Gallery of Canada, to create their afterhours event Artsparks .
Constantly blurring the line between art, craft, music and design, Spins & Needles has pioneered many firsts including hosting:
- The first public sock monkey and plush monster workshops in Ottawa (2005-present),
- One of the first Munny parties in Canada (sponsored by Kid Robot) (2005)
- Disco Bingo, an other alternative night out that mixes disco music and bingo games with kitschy prizes (2006-present)
- The first clothing swap + alteration event in Ottawa (sponsored by Singer and Fabricland) (2009)
- The Ottawa premiere of Handmade Nation, a film that documents the DIY, art, craft and design movement (2009)
- An "urban cozy" public art installation for one of the largest winter festivals in the world (in collaboration with the National Capital Commission) (2010)
The event has been featured in various online and print publications including Makezine.com, Flavorpill (London), le Cool (London), Torontoist, the Ottawa Citizen, the Vancouver Sun, the Montreal Gazette, the National Post, Metro and BUST Magazine. It was featured in the alternative city guidebook Unknown Ottawa (Rob McLennan, Arsenal Pulp Press, 2008).
MISSIONThrough events, partnerships, workshops and other spin-off initiatives, Spins & Needles aims to:
- to build and sustain the creative communities of Ottawa and elsewhere
- to create an inclusive space where music, arts & crafts is accessible to everyone
- to encourage and inspire people to be active creators of their lives
SOCIAL MEDIA
For event information check out the Upcoming Events page, become a member of the Spins & Needles Facebook Group Page or become a fan of the Spins & Needles Fan Page, or check us out on Twitter.
