What is art? What is graffiti? Webster’s Dictionary defines graffiti as “markings, as initials, slogans, or drawings, written, spray-painted, or sketched on a sidewalk, wall of a building or public restroom, or the like”. Controversies that surround graffiti continue to create disagreement amongst city officials/law enforcement and writers around the world, who wish to display and appreciate work in public locations.
Graffiti is a rapidly developing art form whose value is highly contested, even reviled by many authorities while at the same time being subject to protection, sometimes this happening within the same jurisdiction. In many locations, city officials/law enforcement has seen a decline in what was escalating graffiti as they have created “legal” graffiti walls for the work to be displayed. It is still a crime if you are caught putting it up on the walls, however it will not be painted over by the city if nobody sees it done. Other cities continue to wage the war on these public displays, completely rejecting the idea that graffiti may be art that could be appreciated.
Another type of graffiti that began in 2005 is quickly becoming recognized as art. Known by several names—yarn bombing, yarnstorming, guerrilla knitting, urban knitting or graffiti knitting is a type of graffiti or street art that employs colorful displays of knitted or crocheted yarn or fibre rather than paint or chalk. An act of artistic vandalism yarn bombing, adapting a term for plastering an area with graffiti tags has become the goal of many knitting groups worldwide. While other forms of graffiti may be expressive, decorative, territorial, socio-political commentary,
advertising or vandalism, yarn bombing was initially almost exclusively about reclaiming and personalizing sterile or cold public places, it has since developed, with groups known as fiber artists creating graffiti knitting and crocheting worldwide, each with their own agendas and public graffiti knitting projects. Some cities consider yarn bombing to be vandalism, while others coordinate a citywide art festival with the knitters and celebrate art. What was once a random act of guerrilla knitting is now coordinated on a single day to plaster the world with yarn. So I say to you, “Happy International Yarn Bombing Day!”
As a knitter, I know just how much time, effort, and money that is put into projects such of these—however to what purpose? Therefore, I took some time to email many of the groups who openly organize to participate in yarn bombing. My question—what happens to the knitting you put out in the public? Some answered that it frayed and then just blew away, others that the city cleaned it up and sent it on to the dump. So why put all that time into a project that would end up in the dump?
Finally I got an answer from a group in London called Knit the City. They have a theme to what they knit—a story line if you will. Their projects are all knit in pieces that are scarves, blankets of all sizes and knitted animals. Their knitting have paper tags attached that say “Take me home” and the public is encouraged to “steal” the knitting during the week it is allowed to stay up. I later found that this method was practiced in many of the foreign countries where yarn bombing is practiced; however, I could not find a group in America who follows this method.
So why the waste? The knitted graffiti could still be art and yet useful too. We have so many people who could benefit from having something warm to wrap around themselves. Is yarn bombing graffiti or art? As art is in the eye of the beholder, I leave that up to you. However, that being said, could you at least make it useful to those in need?
17 comments:
I can see where waste would be a concern with something like this. I know I personally could not spend time effort and materials on a project that was not going to be used and appreciated. On the other hand I think about all the artists who specialize in what might be defined as "disposable art" things like ice sculptures and sidewalk chalk murals. These things will eventually melt or be washed away by the rain. But the Artists' joy is derived from the art itself not the longevity of the piece. Perhaps Yarn Bombing exists in the gray area between functional and disposable art
Oh my this is interesting! I have never heard of yarn bombing before! I am all for any kind of art- how fun would it be to find things like this around your city, just to look at and leave for someone who needs it to take. I found a knitted giraffe finger puppet at stake conference today next to my hymnal- I did not take it home but I do admit I played with it until Brett made me stop.
Very interesting. The bus does look cool. But, as someone who crochets, I can see what you mean about the waste. It would cost A LOT of money for the yarn used on that bus! And there are so many cold, people in the world. The same yarn could be used to make several blankets for the poor.
It's a matter of personal stewardship....don't think we should tell other people what to do with their yarn or their money!! Personally, I will use my yarn for something more meaningful.
Tho...it does look like fun, and I do enjoy looking at the creative yarn "bombs". LOL
I think this is a great idea but they should recycle the yarn. The US should take ideas from other countries.
I am in awe of the talent it takes to create such works of art! I saw photos of a long metal railing on a pier which had all kinds of cool yarn art on it.
That is an amazing display of talent! I love the idea that it could help those in need! What a fantastic blog post, Cheryl!
An interesting topic and something that actually came up in conversation when I was pointing out some of the cool things in KC last week. There graffiti or "street art" is considered vandalism - if you are caught, however the city does have designated places that are not painted over so that others can enjoy this rather high risk form of expression.
I really enjoyed reading this post and the pictures are amazing! I have never seen anything like it. I love how beatiful the art is and how it could be used to help those in need!
Great article! I had no idea something like knit bombing existed. I think it's much more beautiful than graffiti, but I agree that it needs to be used, not go to waste. Thanks for enlightening me.
I am too practical. i love the color and appreciate the time put intimately it. but what waste of resources!
great blog. LOVE your family photo, interesting post, and really neat pics!!! Thanks for the read. Good luck!!!
I knit, but I'm neither good nor fast. I see these pictures and am overwhelmed by how much time goes into the project. What talented people these yarn-bombers must be. And how sad that they don't simply get together at nursing homes and knit and uplift the lives of the residents, or make blankets and toys for needy children. Yes, make a statement, yes, take back sterile, cold environments and make them warm and personal, but do it in a constructive way that enriches, not wastes. Even if you recycle the yarn, what about the time? So many cold, lonely people who think no one cares for them or even thinks about them. How about yarn bombing that?
Yes, that is exactly what I am saying--make it count! Thank to all of you who see this as waste of resources! Thank you all for posting comments.
Very cool, but I'm with you, total waist of yarn--LOL. Glad I found your blog:)
I think the art is cool and intriguing. I feel if the art is left to become dirty and ragged then, yes, it would be considered a public nuisance. If the european model was followed where pieces of art where able to be used as scarves, blankets or whatever useful then yes I think this would have great value. I think under this model the date would better serve those in need if it was moved sometime in the late fall.
I find it mind boggling that anyone can produce such unique pieces of knitting. Having done some knitting myself, these pieces are hours and hours of work. I wonder if they are appreciated by those who can see them. To me I feel it is a waste of time and the cost of the yarn. I the time and money could be better spent.
I have heard of "Yarnbombing" before, and I was sort of perplexed by it as well. I can understand if you are leaving gifts such as hats, scarves, toys, lying around for people to take home and use. That just seems like a great way to bring joy to another persons life and sweeten their day. I can also understand if your yarnbombing follows a them and sheds light on a cause, such as knitting yellow ribbons for soldiers and wrapping them around trees, etc. But doing it just for the sake of doing it outside of like a festival or something really seems like a waste of time and money to me.
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