Here we explore protest and activism, at the heart of the Raging Grannies’ performances, through their homemade objects and dress, as well as creatively crafted songs. Appearing in over-the-top granny bonnets, embroidered aprons, knitted shawls, and frocks bedecked in political buttons, the Raging Grannies call attention to neglected issues in their communities. In the process, they poke fun at traditional gender norms for older women. In addition to organizing their own gigs, they are trusted allies for community events hosted by local social justice organizations. Self-proclaimed as politically conscious but not partisan, their focus includes reproductive health and abortion care, LGBTQ+ issues, voting access, health care for all, Black Lives Matter, gun control, immigrant rights, support for unions, environmentalism, fair housing, and access to sex education. Explore the page to learn more about the many causes the Raging Grannies have championed over the years!
Raging Grannies Banner
Marjorie Mathews
Madison WI
Unknown
Cotton, ribbon, PVC Pipe
47” x 34”
Courtesy of the Matthews Family
Check out the video to hear what motivates the Raging Grannies of Madison!
Raging Granny Hats
The Raging Grannies of Madison are particularly known for their distinctive hats. This is part of their “camp” style and parody of the “granny.” Often these unique hats are decorated with colorful flowers interspersed with political buttons and range from garden hats to berets to reflect each granny’s individual style. The hats become important discussion starters at performance events; audience members often strike up a conversation based on an interesting hat!
Gerrie Martini’s Granny Hat
Gerrie Martini
Madison, Wisconsin
circa 2009
5” x 11” x 8”
Straw hat, artificial flowers
Courtesy of Gerrie Martini
Gerrie Martini—one of the oldest grannies—has worn her hat to almost all of the granny events over the years.
Marie Martini’s Wisconsin Uprising Hat
Marie Martini
Madison, Wisconsin
January, 2011
Felt hat, buttons, and small flags
11” x 13” x 13”
Courtesy of Marie Martini
Marie Martini’s felt winter hat was made for the Wisconsin Uprising of January 2011.
Denese Peebles's Raging Granny Hat
Denese Peebles
Madison, Wisconsin
21st century
10” x 17” x 12”
Knitted Flowers for LGBTQ+ awareness.
Courtesy of Denese Peebles
Denese Peebles made her hat for her first Raging Grannies of Madison gig. She knitted the flowers with materials she had on hand to honor LGBTQ+ and Trans flags.
The Raging Grannies of Madison
The Raging Grannies of Madison
Carrie Danielson
Farmer’s Market, Madison, Wisconsin
July 20, 2024
Reprint
Courtesy of the photographer
Photo of Grannies at Farmers Market
Photo of Grannies at Farmers Market (L-R: Suzy Bickley, Debrorah Lofgren, and Barbara Arnold)
Carrie Danielson
Farmer’s Market, Madison, Wisconsin
July 20, 2024
Reprint
Courtesy of the photographer
Music and Singing
The Raging Grannies often make use of sarcastic props, like this feather duster that is used as a conducting wand. They also employ simple instruments like tambourines and kazoos to engage their audiences. Anyone can join and sing along.
Feather Duster Conducting Wand
Used by Barbara Park and Deborah Lofgren, Raging Grannies of Madison Conductors
Madison, WI
Plastic and feathers
1.5” x 3”
Courtesy of Deborah Lofgren
Pocket Tuner
Unknown
Madison, Wisconsin
21st century
Plastic, synthetic string, electronic components
24x1.5x.75”
Courtesy of the Matthews Family
Kazoo
Unknown
Madison, Wisconsin
21st Century
Metal
1.5” x 3”
Courtesy of Ricki Sajbel
Tambourine
nknown
Madison, Wisconsin
21st century
Plastic, metal
11" x 2"
Courtesy of Ricki Sajbel
Granny Glam
Granny Apron with Buttons
Rebecca Alwin
Madison, Wisconsin
21st Century
Cotton, Buttons
Courtesy of Rebecca Alwin
An important part of the Raging Grannies’ “glam,” personal aprons are made with great attention to detail. In keeping with their commitment to sustainability, most of these aprons are repurposed. Aprons are covered in buttons that highlight the particular causes that are meaningful to each person. In some cases—a special occasion or show of support during difficult life events—an apron is made and “gifted” from one Raging Granny to another.
Button Collections
When handing over her buttons for this exhibit, one of the Raging Grannies said, “If you want to know what a Granny stands for, look at her buttons.” A close look at an individual granny’s outfit will tell you what causes she stands for and illustrates the fact that these “grandmothers” do not always share the same positions on issues or view them as equally important. Discussion and diversity of opinion is not just welcomed; it is valued.
Button Collection
The Raging Grannies of Madison
Madison Wisconsin
2003-Present
Aluminum, paper, and plastic
Courtesy of The Raging Grannies of Madison
Causes supported by the Raging Grannies
Voting Access
Voting access is a crucial issue to the Raging Grannies. This vest is one of the ways that they draw attention to this important topic. Sometimes at performance events they will support local groups who provide general information regarding voting procedures. Your ballot and local election information are based on where you live. If you have questions you can go to the non-partisan website myvote.wi.gov and enter your street address and city to see what will be on your next ballot, find your next local election, and learn more about voting in person.
Granny Square Vest
Sheila Plotkin
Madison, WI
21st Century
Crochet, yarn
44 x 13 x 3"
Courtesy of Sheila Plotkin
Check out the video for the Raging Grannies’ performances for voting rights!
Reproductive Health and Justice:
If the Grannies weren’t already difficult to ignore, they made sure you couldn’t miss them by carrying a large crochet uterus named Ursula with them to their protests, particularly when protesting for reproductive rights.! Sheila Plotkin made the first Ursula in response to the Dobbs decision on June 24, 2022, when SCOTUS overturned Roe v Wade. The big Ursula was busy protesting this fall, but Sheila Plotkin has also made a number of smaller “Ursulas”, some which wear Ruth Bater Ginsburg’s “dissent” collar, for each Raging Granny. These can be pinned to aprons and displayed in support of reproductive rights and abortion care access!
Ursula in Pink with collar
Sheila Plotkin
Madison, Wisconsin
June 28, 2022 - July 2024
Yarn, Crochet
5” x 3.5”
Courtesy of Sheila Plotkin
Ursula in Pink
Sheila Plotkin
Madison, Wisconsin
June 28, 2022 - July 2024
Yarn, Crochet
Courtesy of Sheila Plotkin
Ursula in Red with collar
Sheila Plotkin
Madison, Wisconsin
June 28, 2022 - July 2024
Yarn, Crochet
5” x 3.5”
Courtesy of Sheila Plotkin
Uterus Earrings in Wood
Unknown
Madison, Wisconsin
21st Century
Wood, metal
2x1.8"
Courtesy of Ricki Sajbel
Black Lives Matter
Evelyn Kain created these pieces in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Evelyn’s pieces illustrates the ways that the Grannies engage with and react to the injustices they see in the world around them.
Lyrics for "Forward Against Racism"
CHORUS:
Forward together! Forward together! Forward together! The time is now!
Forward together! Forward together! Forward together! The time is now!
Those who fight for justice
Want to strengthen democracy
Not until that battle’s won are any of us free. So! Chorus
Reckless cops who murder
Shouldn’t be their own referee
Not until that battle’s won are any of us free. So! Chorus
Mass incarceration
A tool of supremacy
Not until that battle’s won are any of us free. So! Chorus
Schools that lack essentials
Leave kids drowning in rough seas
Not until that battle’s won are any of us free. So! Chorus
We all need to reckon
With our racial history
Not until that battle’s won are any of us free. So!
Chorus
“Fashion Kills” Bib
Evelyn Kain
Madison, Wisconsin
2012
Cotton, Embroidery
17” x 14”
Courtesy of the Kain Family
This piece was created to protest the killing of seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin in 2012 by George Zimmerman. Trayvon’s hoodie became a central piece of evidence in the investigation into his death and focal point in the national conversation about violence towards Black men. After the Justice Department decided not to press charges against George Zimmerman, the hoodie was released from evidence and returned to Trayvon’s family. It is now displayed in the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Photo of Raging Grannies at Black Lives Matter Protest
Photo of Raging Grannies at Black Lives Matter Protest
Unknown Photographer
Madison, Wisconsin
circa 2016
Reprint
Courtesy of the Raging Grannies of Madison
George Floyd Bib
Evelyn Kain
Madison Wisconsin
circa 2020
Cotton, embroidery, plastic
17” x 14”
Courtesy of the Kain Family
Evelyn Kain created this piece in protest of the killing of George Floyd in 2020. The embroidery references George Floyd’s last words and the allegedly counterfeit bill that initially brought the police.
Environmental Justice
Fracking Bib
Evelyn Kain
Madison Wisconsin
21st Century
Cotton, embroidery
17” x 14”
Courtesy of the Kain Family
Lyrics for "Bring Back My Planet"
Bring Back My Planet Key of A
Tune: Frankie and Johnny
Air miles make holes in the ozone
Our lifestyle makes lots of debris
They tell me the planet’s in danger
Oh bring back my planet to me
She’s Mother Earth, and we’ve been doin’ her wrong.
Cars emit unburned organics
Monoxide and nitrates and lead
But it’s nearly two blocks to the bus stop
So we’ll drive till the planet is dead
She’s Mother Earth, and we’ve been doin’ her wrong.
Living things need pure, clean water
Without it we won't last a day
Pollution and fracking and misuse --
So many threats are in play
She’s Mother Earth, and we’ve been doin’ her wrong.
Big businesses don’t own the sunshine
They don’t make a buck from the breeze
So they plunder the planet for profit
Oh bring back my planet to me
She’s Mother Earth, and we’ve been doin’ her wrong.
Our planet is warming and changing
There's no doubt that it is our fault
We have to stop fossil fuel burning
And bring this disaster to a halt!
She’s Mother Earth, and we’ve been doin’ her wrong ...
She’s Mother Earth -- let's start treatin' her RIGHT!!
Lyrics for “Radical Environmentalists"
Lyrics: Kay Thode, Vicky Ryder, modified by Madison Grannies
Tune: She’ll Be Comin ’Round the Mountain
[Watch the director because some lines are slowed for emphasis]
Oh, we’re radical environmentalists
Yes, we’re radical environmentalists
We like clean air and clean water And our beaches without tarballs
Oh, we’re radical environmentalists!
Oh, we like our veggies without pesticides
And our food without those hormones placed inside
We like fish that don’t have PCBs
And forests that still have some trees
We’re radical environmentalists!
We want power that can always be renewed
Communities in control -- we ain’t no fools!
And we’d rather see those windmill blades
Than nuclear plants in the Everglades
We’re radical environmentalists!
Oh, we like to have our food grown locally
And not shipped from far away or overseas
In Wisconsin we love fam’ly farms
Not “agribusiness” full of harm
We’re radical environmentalists!
We can’t just stand and watch as / Our planet has hot flashes/ We’re SUCH radical environmentalists!