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ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2011
27
Yarn artists re-envision yarn art
Knitted graffiti: Crafters take to street for attention, thrill
By Jennifer Forker crocheted flowers. years. That is part of the thrill for the felt, is so large it was knitted with utility
Masculine yarnstormers. poles and two John Deere excavators.
I t had to happen: Someday, somewhere
a woman would grow tired of knitting
yet another baby blanket, Fair Isle
Why?
“Street art is so aggressive and mas-
“We don’t obstruct anyone’s way with
these things,” says Esther.
His 2009 large-scale, knitted work, “The
Big Knit,” involved covering a
culine,” Esther, 25, reflects. “It’s great to Many consider the mother of knit Melbourne, Australia, bridge in bright
sweater or pair of colorful socks. Then have a counterpoint to it. A hyper-girlie graffiti to be Magda Sayeg of Austin, pink and orange tape.
what? touch.” Texas. In 2005, she knitted a cozy for the “I think I’m probably trying to stretch
Well, then we get fire hydrants decked So, rogue knitters and subversive cro- door handle at her Houston clothing my own abilities more than anything
out in fuzzy vests, light poles and tree cheters do it for the art, the attention and shop. Reaction to that simple, bright else,” says Cole, 35. “I think I’m taking
trunks wrapped in colorful, textile love, the thrill. handle propelled Sayeg, now 37, into an idea and trying to blow it out as much
and other outrageous acts of knit graffi- And folks, they mean well. covert acts of knit graffiti. Her tagging as I can.”
ti. Also known as yarn bombing, yarn- “Not everybody is going to love it, grew bolder: In 2008, she and a six-per- At the other extreme is Anna
storming and guerrilla knitting. and that’s one of the reasons it’s fun. son team covered a Mexico City bus in Hrachovec, a Brooklyn creator of knit-
Maybe you have seen the handiwork You’re doing something that’s not sanc- colorful Afghan blankets. ted toys, some of which are diminutive
in a city or suburb near you, even out in tioned,” says Leanne Prain, 34, who co- “Really, what it says is there’s a need and featured in her coming book,
the wild. The randomness of it is the wrote the book on yarn bombing. Well, for a human element in a dehumanized “Teeny-Tiny Mochimochi” (Potter
point, say these fiber artists. one of the books: 2009’s “Yarn environment,” Sayeg says. Craft, 2011).
“It’s really fun to surprise people,” Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Today, several yarn artists maintain “Once I started making something
says “Esther,” a member of the Ladies Graffiti,” with Mandy Moore, from blogs. From independent acts of worsted that was all just my idea, and especially
Fancywork Society in Denver, Arsenal Pulp Press. rebellion, a community was born. since I was making characters, once
Colorado, who prefers her anonymity. Transforming the twin crafts in this Installation those came to life in that way, I never
“You don’t expect to see a crochet- This undated photo courtesy of Jeff Christenson shows ‘Yarn Bombed
public manner is liberating for a lot of Another book, “Astounding Knits!” Railing’, a mixed-media tag in Vancouver, Canada from ‘Yarn Bombing: The turned back,” says Hrachovec, 29. “I
wrapped bike loop (rack). It’s just so crafters, says Prain, of Vancouver, (Voyageur Press, 2011), by Lela Nargi, Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti’, by Leanne Prain and Mandy Moore. The first never made a single scarf.” (AP)
unexpected. It kinda shakes people up.” Canada. highlights several yarn bombers’ work,
The four crocheting Ladies, who took
International Yarn Bombing Day is set for June 11. Promoted on Prain’s Yarn ❑ ❑ ❑
“My hope is it expands what people including Sayeg’s. (You can also see the Bombing website, and on its own website and Facebook page, the event is
their street names from their grandmoth- think of as art and who can make art,” outlandish bus and other Sayeg works, meant to encourage crafters to tag something and then post about it. (AP) Online:
ers, tagged the big blue bear that peers says Prain. including her team’s most recent large- http://davecoledavecole.com
into the Denver Convention Center in Knit graffiti artists often “tag” their scale installation — wrapping up 300 its own site and Facebook page, the are re-envisioning them: from sweaters http://iybd.blogspot.com http://knitta-
April with a crocheted 8-foot ball of blue sites on the sly, even at night. They tar- feet of air conditioning ductwork at event is meant to encourage crafters to so miniature they fit on the head of a pin, porfavor.wordpress.com
yarn, attached to the 42-foot bear with a get street signs and light posts, but avoid Etsy.com’s Brooklyn, New York, head- tag something and post about it. to a life-size, knitted gingerbread house, http://mochimochiland.com
crocheted chain. Last summer, they were interfering with a sign’s purpose. quarters — at her blog, Knitta Please.) Knit graffiti is not the only novel outfitted with knitted accouterments. http://yarnbombing.com
awarded a public arts grant and spent six Sometimes the tags are removed quick- The first International Yarn Bombing direction in which the yarn arts are head- The work of Dave Cole, a Providence, http://www.astoundingknits.blogspot.
weeks embellishing a construction-site ly, often by passers-by, but others can go Day is set for June 11. Promoted on ing. Nargi’s book is an eye-popping Rhode Island, sculptor, is among those com http://www.ladiesfancyworkso-
metal fence with 360 feet of colorful, unnoticed and remain for weeks, even Prain’s Yarn Bombing website, and on introduction to the fanciful ways artists featured: His American flag, made of ciety.com
Lifestyle
click
Courses
Continued from Page 26
following age groups; 6 to 10 years, 11 to
15 years and Adults (16+). Expert Tuition
is provided by Head Coach Tariq, a tutor
with five years experience from the
World Tae Kwon Do Federation. Classes
take place every Monday and Wednesday
from 1700-1800 at the British School of
Kuwait, Salwa, Street 1, Block 1.
Registrations are now being taken by
Aisha at the BAS office Tel. 25623604
Ext. 131 or 99458013 or contact Coach
Tariq on 94011430.
General
September 27
CFO organises conference: The
Embassy of the Philippines invites
Filipino community organizations in
Kuwait to participate in a conference on
“Diaspora to Development: A Global
Summit of Filipinos in the Diaspora”
organized by the Commission on
Filipinos Overseas (CFO) in cooperation
with the National Federation of Filipino
Associations in America (NaFFAA) and
the US Pinoys for Good Governance
(USP4GG).
The Conference will be held at the
Philippine International Convention
Center on 27-29 Sept 2011 and is open to
participants from 40 countries who are
leaders and convenors of the NaFFAA
and USP4GG, previous Presidential
awardees, global Filipino networks,
migration-related Philippine government
agencies, local government units, civil
society organizations, academe, private
sector and multilateral agencies.
The Conference aims to highlight
achievements of Overseas Filipinos and
discuss possible areas on how they could
be partners to Philippine development. It
also seeks to create a network among
leaders of the Overseas Filipino commu-
nity and serve as launching venue for the
Diaspora to Development Program of the
CFO.
Registration fee will be announced
later.
For more details, please coordinate This undated photo courtesy of Joyce Sood for the GLIDE Foundation shows the rooftop garden at the Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco. As more people turn to roof gardens to grow their own
with CFO’s Atty. Golda Myra Roma and food, they are coming up with all kinds of ways to keep those gardens light and avoid sagging and cave-ins. (AP)
Edwin Pajares at telephone numbers 02-
561-8321 locals 600-604, 02-561-8291
and 02 561-8160, and email addresses Urban farmers perfect ultra-light soil technique
groma@cfo.gov.ph and
epajares@cfo.gov.ph.
❑ ❑ ❑
KIFF launches helplines: Kuwait
India Fraternity Forum (KIFF) has
requested Indian brothers and sisters to
Roof gardeners find ways to keep things light
SAN FRANCISCO, California, June says. roofs, shaving off every pound of extra we want to expand the project, we’d another, minimizing the amount of
make avail of amnesty declared by the
HH Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- 8, (AP): On the roof of the Glide The Glide Memorial farmers grow weight is a hobby in itself. like to spread loads between people’s water used and reducing the weight on
Jaber Al-Sabah. KIFF has launched help- Memorial Church here, gardeners use their crops in bread boxes and wine Jay Sand, a coordinator with the roofs.” the roof. She uses lightweight peat
lines in various languages to assist wine boxes and coconut cores. In boxes, in part because the boxes are Philadelphia Rooftop Farm, is working In Chicago, Illinois, Heidi Hough, moss and vermiculite, a mineral often
Indians who are in need of more informa- Philadelphia, they plant between the light, in part to show congregants that with “farmers who want to be archi- who co-writes a blog for rooftop farm- used in soil-less gardens.
tion or clarification regarding the roofs of row houses. In New York City, they can grow plants in containers tects and architects who want to be ers called Because roof farmers use only as
amnesty during March 1 to June 30. The one homeowner installed steel beams. found around the house. farmers” to transform the city’s roofs. greenroofgrowers.blogspot.com, has
helpline service is available in English - much water as they need, they have to
As more people turn to roof gardens Structural After many hours of study, Sand and turned her passion for urban agricul- be wary of evaporation.
66624501, 97121942; Hindi - 97615386,
66932484; Urdu - 60934346, 60712575;
to grow their food, they are coming up his group focused on expanding coop- ture into a search for the perfect light-
with all kinds of ways to keep those In New York, Lize Mogel took a erative efforts across Philadelphia’s weight roof garden. Plastic
Malayalam - 66702637, 66624501; Tamil structural approach: She had five steel
- 55217827, 67765827 and Kannada - plots light, and avoid roof sagging and famous row houses. Above her home, she grows plants Hough uses a plastic covering over
97735173, 99417593, 65525903 lan- cave-ins. beams constructed under her roof so “We decided not to grow on twin on wooden platforms, which helps her peat-moss mix to stop evaporation,
guages in all part of Kuwait. “Weight is a huge factor,” says she could begin planting a roof farm roofs, where one brick wall is shared take pressure off the roof. A local hot- while Johanne Daoust, a Toronto roof
❑ ❑ ❑ Josephine Quiocho, a project organizer this year. Mogel, an artist who has between two houses. For the next dog factory also gives her plastic pick-
grown roof crops for years, always farmer, uses “shade cloths” she spotted
Drawing, painting and crafts: at Graze The Roof, a community gar- growing season, we’re focused on row le barrels which she “recycles and for sale while traveling in China. The
Dear children, if you want to spend your den that grows spinach, mustard, kale, dreamed of having a full roof farm. houses with two brick walls between upcycles” to make planters for vegeta-
“I had to do renovations anyway, so cloths block the sun while allowing a
leisure time in useful creative activities sweat peas and other crops on Glide houses. They are absolutely perfect bles. Hough and some friends have
Memorial’s roof. I spoke to the architect and it didn’t developed an irrigation system that free flow of air to the plants.
like improving your hand in because you can hold a lot of support,”
drawing/painting and crafts? If you want Graze The Roof has perfected an cost that much more to reinforce the requires little soil and water, vastly “Everybody you speak to has their
to develop your hobbies in water coloring
says Sand, a music teacher. own way of planting those roofs,” says
ultra-light “soil” that includes coconut roof,” she says. “Because the steel His group is now talking to block reducing the weight of the farm.
and oil painting. If you are interested in core and perlite, a volcanic mineral beams will be attached directly to the “You can buy very good, light- Daoust. “If you can pick your own
learning glass painting, metal painting, captains and resident groups to get breakfast every morning instead of
that aerates plants. “The coconut core gratings on which I’ll grow the crops, more people involved this year. weight irrigation boxes, but we just
clay pots coloring and decoration, greet- having it flown 3,000 miles by cargo
ing cards andmany more items? If you allows more air into the soil, lightens it the gratings can take a massively looked around and copied the system
up and helps trap moisture. We don’t heavy load. I could raise elephants up Platform with our own material,” she says. plane, then you are doing it right. As
are interested to learn the above step by
step and from a lady architect, please Tel: need heavy, water-clogged soil that there if I want.” “I use a light wooden platform to Hough grows her plants with one 5- long as you take precautions, it can
25732787, 99557876. can weigh on your roof,” Quiocho For urban farmers with weaker grow my own crops,” says Sand. “If gallon (19-liter) bucket planted inside transform your life.”
❑ ❑ ❑
PDA commences registration:
Pathanamthitta District Association and humanitarian causes may contact by Ballerine seeks talent: The talent can email us on admin@baller- ing environment for native English Desert Pioneers Toastmasters Club:
(PDA) Kuwait is in the process of email through association’s e-mail Ballerine’s are looking for young and ines.org along with a small bio data and females. Every member has the opportu- Why spend thousands of dollars to devel-
enrolling new members to include people address: pta.association@gmail.com or energetic dancers to be a part of their recent photograph of you. nity to develop communication and lead- op effective communication and leader-
of all the areas in Pathanamthitta District contact the following office-bearers. upcoming mega event. If you feel you ❑ ❑ ❑ ership skills, which in turn fosters self- ship skills when you can acquire the
and to have capable and talented people Abraham Varghese, Vice-President: have the charm and charisma to mesmer- confidence and personal growth. same for a fraction of five Kuwaiti dinars
in its fold to support and effectively 99363448; E-mail: ize the crowds what are you waiting for? Gulf Toastmasters Club: Interested Meetings are held in Salwa on the first per month?
implement the social activities and pro- abraham2108@yahoo.com; Benny You have the talent and we will give in developing your communication and and third Thursdays of each month from 6 Desert Pioneers Toastmasters Club is
grammes of the association. Persons who Pathanamthitta, General Secretary: you the platform to showcase your talent. leadership skills? Fearful of public speak- to 8 pm. an affiliate of Toastmasters International,
wish to become a member of 66501482; E-mail: Dancers of any dance discipline are ing? If you are interested in receiving more a California, USA-based nonprofit organ-
Pathanamthitta District Association and binnyp57@yahoo.com; Oommen George encouraged to audition (Ballet, Jazz, Then visit the Pearl of the Gulf information, kindly email:
ization, which provides a platform for
person who would like to contribute their (Jose), President: 99722437. Contemporary, Hip hop etc). Toastmasters Club. Our aim is to provide Membership@freetoasthost.com
time, efforts and services for the society ❑ ❑ ❑ Those interested in showcasing their a mutually supportive and positive learn- ❑ ❑ ❑ Continued on Page 28
