Comments on: Community Art Or Pointless Littering?

By: original art

original art — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:34:21 +0000

Hi, ok yes I agree knitting as far as a craft pastime in its artistic values goes is all well respected. But this to me is definately littering. As I am not a great fan of yarn or knitting either, I don’t think that I would appreciate seeing pieces of knitted fabrics hanging from a crossing lights or lamp posts or even put it in the same category as graffiti itself, but yes each to their own.

By: jafabrit

jafabrit — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:16:48 +0000

I have to share this funny story about removal of knit graffiti from a street sign in our village (Yellow Springs, Ohio). It had our knit graffiti on it for 2 months and a truck hit the pole. We thought the village crew would just replace the pole. No! they removed the knitting off the damaged pole and put it on the new pole.
I hear all the arguments against the idea, they will get smelly, damage the trees etc and non of those are supportable arguments. No, none of ours have gotten smelly (dingy yes and then replaced). I wrote a blog response to the anti knit graffiti manifesto and although I respect anyone’s right NOT to like whatever movement or art is produced in this world, the reasons in the manifesto were quickly disprovable.

As for the claim it is an attempt to make knitting cool, no. As an artist I enjoy the challenge of using various media in unexpected ways. Yarn is another medium I enjoy using, and I like seeing how knitting is put into another context and transforms something in the street that is often ignored or taken for granted.
Plus it is just FUN, the village seems to have embraced it, the kids love it, the seniors love it , and the visitors/tourists love it.

By: daisy

daisy — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:07:43 +0000

Knittin Graffiti or Yarn Bombing is a fun, harmless, quirky artistic form of expression. Don’t get to serious about it or the rain on it…we all put our sweaters in the wash and they survive..Kings Cross looks softer, people are talking to each other about it. We, the participants , feel good about having enhanced the enviroment, even though we have been told by the odd person that it is a waste of resourses….these people should take a look at the ‘art’ in some of the art galleries, and the sculptures around town. I dont understand why knitting has been singled out as an art form that has to be tucked away in the craft room only to be used for making things that keep people warm. The Kings Cross project was a fantstic event, it brought people together for 2 months, passers by stopped and chatted, some stayed and knitted, friendships were made, i dont get it…why the negativity?……and yes I would and am already ‘doing it again’

By: Jacqueline

Jacqueline — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:19:16 +0000

A little bit late posting here but would like to barrack for the other camp! Plenty of virtual ink has flowed over the Anti-knit graffitti manifesto elsewhere. The nutshell of that and my own reading of Web-Goddess and her diatribe is that IF she is any kind of goddess, she has clay feet. Plenty of people derived enjoyment from participating or viewing these activities. Soft Sculpture (@ NGA Canberra) was a fabulous event. There is plenty of room for different opinions in this world, and even knitters who drop stitches and/or do not consider themselves “artists” have a place in community arts. Tolerance is sadly lacking in her arguments but it has merit as it galvanised debate if the crafting community. Power to the crafters of the world. Ohm….

By: bells

bells — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:20:44 +0000

not my thing. I like knitting as art but not this stuff, largely because I’m not into ‘trying to make knitting cool.’ It just is what it is and I don’t feel the need to preach about it.

By: Fern

Fern — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:23:40 +0000

Thanks for the Clarification Kris! Will edit the post right away.

I agree with your position completely, if I’m going to knit/crochet for a warm fuzzy feeling inside, I would far rather make something for The Linus Project/The Toy Society/or any of the other craft related organisations out there As you say, there are only so many times you can see a tree wrapped in a bit of garter stitch and think “how creative!”.

By: Kris

Kris — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 05:07:59 +0000

Hey, thanks for the link. Just a clarification. The Kings Cross project that I mentioned on the blog is not to my knowledge affiliated with Magda Sayeg in any way. It’s a new project that hasn’t even been really kicked off yet. Presumably it was inspired by Magda’s Australian visit and the ensuing publicity, but I don’t think she’s officially a part of it.

I’ve been arguing my position on Ravelry all day. I don’t want to give the impression that I think public knitting CAN’T be art. It’s just that “knit graffiti” has been done to death for four years now, and I’m sick of the repetition and lack of imagination. Can’t we as a knitting community come up with a new way to showcase our craft?