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| Green Grass |
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| Enthusiastic Onlooker |
"...every time I go by this, I smile!" - Suzanne
"Wow!!! I love it!" - Christy
"So cool." - Maggie
This past fall, I completed a large installation on a tree. (You can see that HERE and HERE). As part of that project, I thought through my process for completing these large scale installations, and and decided to put in writing as a Question and Answer (Q and A). I hope you enjoy learning a little bit more about yarn bombing and about my process.
What is Yarn Graffiti?
Yarn bombing (AKA Yarn graffiti, knit graffiti, crochet graffiti) merges the disciplines of installation art, needlework, and street art. It generally involves the attachment of a handmade item to a street fixture or a created object that is left within a landscape (like a mushroom or a flower).
What is the philosophy behind Yarn Graffiti?
Yarn bombing is about being seen. It’s taking something made by needle work (either knit or crochet) and making it public. Normally, these crafts are done indoors in a solitary manner. They are often seen as the “feminine” work and are of course associated with utilitarian purposes (e.g. making sweaters or blankets). By choosing to take one’s handmade yarn works outside and installing them within a different context (on the street), it becomes a way of liberating the needle arts.
Is it political?
Some yarn bombing artists set out to make very strong-willed political statements. But it doesn’t have to be that. It can simply be a silly and whimsical way of putting yourself and your work out there in a very non-traditional way.
Why do people like it?
Craft is a slow process. Being a knitter or a crocheter means you are willing to invest time, materials, and skill in making something. When you choose to adorn or embellish your surroundings with what you’ve made, you are giving people a gift – the joy of seeing something unexpected. Seeing a soft, yarn piece – sometimes actual scarves and hats, artfully placed – wrapped around an inanimate is unexpected and can almost enact feelings of love and comfort. It resonates with crafters and non-crafters alike.
What is your yarn bombing process like?
For most of my yarn graffiti work to date, I’ve reclaimed abandoned pieces that I find, or that other people give to me. These are mostly afghans and blankets. I hold the object in hands for a while and think about the life the blanket has already lived. I honor the hundreds and hundreds of tiny stitches that were made by hand by a special person for a special person. Anything made by hand is so special and it should be cherished. I thank it, and then set about giving it new life.
Where can people see your work?
I recently installed a wrapped tree at Spectrum Gallery in Essex, Connecticut. That was my first one and a lot of fun. I’m finishing up a yarn graffiti work on street furniture that will be unveiled soon. I also have other pop-up creations in the works! Graffiti artists sometimes work incognito, under cover of darkness. In some cities, graffiti is banned, and so one never knows how long the work will be up before it is taken down. Other artists actually tag their work with their name, website, etc. I’m sort of doing a combination of the two right now.
Who inspires you?
Mandy Moore and Leanne Prain are probably considered the mega-gurus of the yarn bombing world, although I believe it was Magda Sayegdon who started it all . I love their book Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti. I also love, love, love London Kaye's work.
Can anyone do it?
Absolutely! There is a ton of great inspiration online. Start with the folks I mentioned above, and go from there. Good luck!
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