There are so many different things one can do with yarn. It is possible to knit, crochet, tat, braid, and more and one can make decorative, practical, wearable or interesting items with it. As you know I tend to lean more toward the decorative or interesting end of the spectrum so I need to be cautious as I discuss the practice of yarn bombing. It too leans in the decorative realm, but I'm not sure I get it. (Dack, I can hear you chuckling at this last statement. Yes, yes, I get the incongruousness.) Yarn bombing is a great way to use up random stash and although I don't personally find it appealing, it does have the impact of changing nondescript public places into something more interesting.
What is yarn bombing? "A type of graffiti or street art that employs colorful displays of knitted or crocheted cloth, rather than paint or chalk. While yarn installations--called yarn bombs or knit bombs--may last for years, they are considered non-permanent, and, unlike graffiti, can be easily removed if necessary. The practice is believed to have originated in the U.S. with Texas knitters trying to find a creative way to use their leftover and unfinished knitting projects, but it has since spread worldwide.While other forms of graffiti may be expressive, decorative, territorial, socio-political commentary, advertising or vandalism, yarn bombing is almost exclusively about reclaiming and personalizing sterile or cold public places." (taken from BuzzWord by Macmillan Dictionary).
To give you a glimpse of what yarn bombing looks like in the field, here are a couple of local Vancouver, British Columbia installations:
Now back to my world and yarn bombing. Each spring art students at my university are required to show some of their work in public places across campus. There have been some very creative works in the past years but this year has brought a couple that caused me to pull out the iPhone to take photos. Just imagine my surprise to see not just one, but two yarn bomb installation here this spring. One campus statue, which happens to look very much like an egg was yarn bombed for Easter:
Another statue titled "On the Beach" was less bombed but certainly made more colourful. With those pink scarves and head bands these bronze sunbathers appear more spring-like:
So yarn bombers at Simon Fraser Univeristy keep up the good works. You have added colour to an otherwise rather drab spring and increased the overall discourse about the statues here with your creations.
What is yarn bombing? "A type of graffiti or street art that employs colorful displays of knitted or crocheted cloth, rather than paint or chalk. While yarn installations--called yarn bombs or knit bombs--may last for years, they are considered non-permanent, and, unlike graffiti, can be easily removed if necessary. The practice is believed to have originated in the U.S. with Texas knitters trying to find a creative way to use their leftover and unfinished knitting projects, but it has since spread worldwide.While other forms of graffiti may be expressive, decorative, territorial, socio-political commentary, advertising or vandalism, yarn bombing is almost exclusively about reclaiming and personalizing sterile or cold public places." (taken from BuzzWord by Macmillan Dictionary).
To give you a glimpse of what yarn bombing looks like in the field, here are a couple of local Vancouver, British Columbia installations:
 |
| A bike rack in downtown Vancouver |
 |
| An art installation on the seawall near Stanley Park |
 |
| Yarn bombed "Oval Reflections" at SFU |
 |
| The unbombed creation shown with its artist |
Another statue titled "On the Beach" was less bombed but certainly made more colourful. With those pink scarves and head bands these bronze sunbathers appear more spring-like:
 |
| On the Beach at SFU |
So yarn bombers at Simon Fraser Univeristy keep up the good works. You have added colour to an otherwise rather drab spring and increased the overall discourse about the statues here with your creations.
I feel that Afghanis would be much less angry and must more colorful if the predator drones would call in yarn bombs! Zahwari would look great in wool knit scarf, a pink toque with a flower on it, and eating a piece of knitted wedding cake. The Revolution may not be televised, but it will be knitted!!!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, I think I know who you are. Adding some intellectual content to this blog, oh what is the world coming to. I do like your idea of bombs being made of yarn, they would be so much easier on the collateral damage.
ReplyDelete