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Green Grass
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Hello! I am so excited to be right in the middle of another yarn installation. This time, I am covering a telephone pole. It is time for SPRING, and this project is definitely a hopeful one. As I add each element, I think of warmer temperatures ahead. And green grass. And flowers.
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Enthusiastic Onlooker
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This one is installed in my neighborhood. I'm so inspired by the comments from my neighbors -
"...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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Thank you for visiting my blog! I
hope you enjoyed reading about what's been going on for me artistically.
I look forward to hearing from you on my website at
or right here on my blog
