yarnbombing – Kristen Baumlier

Today you might just see some knitted “monster feet” on a picnic table, a crocheted turtleneck on a tree, or a knitted picnic set in the park. Yes – today is International Yarn Bombing Day, which started last year.

Also called knit graffiti, yarn bombing started over 20 years ago, when artists and groups wanted to give a softer side to urban environments – and created public works using yarn and other soft fiber materials. Maternal expressions such as knitting, or wrapping up something have been used to transform the cold, concrete, and metal elements in our landscapes. Hydrants, lampposts, mailboxes, bicycles, cars, and even buses and bridges have all been yarn bombed in recent years. In 2009, the book, “Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti” was published, and yarn bombing has gone global, with the first International Yarn Bombing Day held on June 11 of last year.

The group behind International Yarn Bombing Day was started by a knitter “knitting ninja” Joann Matvichuk who lives in in Lethbridge Alberta Canada. Matvichuk was looking for a way to bring awareness of yarnbombing to her community and the world, so started to communicate with other fiber artists to create a day to yarnbomb and share images of what is done this day.

Yarn bombing is often considered littering or vandalism. Pieces are often installed at night, and sometimes are removed by city officials. Some groups, like a group in Carrboro, NC who put up some yarn pieces in a public area earlier this year will get permission from the city before making the pieces, and also follow guidelines such as making the pieces less than 8 feet tall, and on approved public spaces only.

The Facebook page for the event says, “Fiber artists of the world uniting on one day to bring color and beauty to our urban landscape.” There is a flickr page associated with the day, so check back later to see what gets posted. Also – watch closely for yarn to appear in your neighborhood today on June 11^th, and if you are a knitter or crocheter – get your yarn out!

Image Source:
International Yarn Bombing Day – Facebook page

Links:

International Yarn Bombing Day – Flickr page

International Yarn Bombing Day – Facebook page

Today I was driving in Carrboro, NC with my sister-in-law and we drove past a series of public graffiti works made of yarn. A knitted piece that looks like watermelon surrounding part of a tree, a group of small trees with arm-band looking pieces on each trunk, and knitted pieces on the railings, poles, and planters of the public library were all part of the “yarn bombing” piece that was put up one night in February.

Not all yarn bombing is created equal. Where I live in Cleveland, a local artist was commissioned to make several pubic yarn pieces that wrap trees and poles in the area. They are bright, crocheted, and colored and function as a decoration on the elements that they cover. the objects are softer, but not transformed into something of substance. . The pieces here in Carrboro are more successful, and a great example of yarn bombing done well. The pieces seem to have a sense of humor, and pattern, color, and context seem to be considered in the works. At the center of the pieces is a bus bench, that has been yarn bombed to read, “I (heart) YARN” – which serves as a artist statement of the group.

Yarn bombing is often considered littering or vandalism. Pieces are often installed at night, and sometimes are removed by city officials. Some groups, like the Carrboro group will get permission before making the pieces, and also follow guidelines such as making the pieces less than 8 feet tall, and on specific public spaces.

Links:

Yarnbombing Hits Carrboro Article

Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti (the Book and Website)

25 Amazing Yarn Bombs – Buzzfeed.com

Kristen Baumlier

Tag: yarnbombing

Today is International Yarn Bombing Day

Yarnbombing – from Carrboro, NC and Beyond