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Photo by Fred Pollard
Sara McGibany of Alton chose bright, vibrant colors for her submission to the Yard Bomb.
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Photo by Andrew Dobson
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Photo by Fred Pollard
Lillian Bates of By Design in Alton has created one of the more unique submissions to the Yarn Bomb display in Downtown Alton, utilizing a mannequin to bring attention to her pole.
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Photo by Fred Pollard
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Photo by Fred Pollard
The decorating is not limited to light poles, and benches through Third Street also have been adorned with color.
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Photo by Andrew Dobson
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Photo by Andrew Dobson
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Photo by Fred Pollard
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Photo by Fred Pollard
ALTON – Knitting guerillas? Yarn extremists? Caches of crocheting?
Downtown Alton has been invaded — by bright colors, warm fuzzies and fluffy softness.
“The response has been overwhelming, honestly,” event organizer Laura Blair said. “You are never sure how the public will react to something like this, but it has been so positive. People come up, ask questions, and even offer to hold the yarn while you work. They haven’t seen anything like this before.
“People pose and take photos with the displays. People are really digging it.”
From now through Aug. 15, Alton’s second “Yard Bombing” is open for display on Third Street in Downtown Alton.
“We did this last year at Jacoby,” Blair said. “We have grown so much since then, and moving down to Third Street just allowed us to get more people involved.”
This year, 13 artists each were assigned a light pole and then turned loose to knit like a nitwit, do some wacky weaving, or crochet away. The artists use yarn to create “street art” the way other artists may use chalk or paint, and are free to incorporate unique props to enhance their creations.
“I know that some do it as celebration of the handmade, the growth of downtown, or as encouragement to the public to spend their money within the local community,” Blair said. “Some do it for the pure joy and/or perhaps defiance that crocheting, knitting and weaving are dying arts, which is simply not true. They are alive and well.”
While perhaps new to the area, “yarn bombing” has been gaining momentum and dates back 15 or 20 years.
Artist Bill Davenport was creating crochet-covered objects in Houston, Texas, in the 1990s, and graffiti artist Deadly Knitshade created the first “Knit the City” event in the 2000s. Expanding to outdoor exhibits, poles, signs, and building fronts around the world began popping out with vibrancy and originality.
“Yarn bombing and knitting graffiti has been happening in cities all over, so why not Alton?” Blair said.
With the help of crafty friends, she organized the event mostly through Facebook. The goal was to have the displays finished by July 26 to coincide with the Big Gig music festival, although some “bombers” actually were working on their displays during the show.
“Laura asked if I could help out last year but I didn’t have much time, so I donated yarn and showed Laura how to crochet a curly scarf,” Robin Berry of Alton said. “Then this year Laura reached out to me again and how could I say no? I’ve seen pictures of other yarn bombing online and thought it was so amazing and cool.”
Berry says she plans to have a theme in place by next year for her submission.
“Next year will be bigger, I can feel it,” she says. “I think this is great for our community, and I think when people go visit our local restaurants downtown they can see our community working together in a positive, fun way.
“It just might brighten someone’s day in a unique way.”
Blair says the number of people involved, including artists, volunteers and those making donations has tripled in the past year, practically demanding more “yarnstorming”…and soon.
“We have been contacted about next year’s event already,” Blair said. “Art can happen anywhere; it does not need to reside on walls or in a building. I feel that when the public is able to encounter art as part of their daily lives, it is the sign of a flourishing community.”
For more information on the event or to get involved, email Laura at blairlairstudios@gmail.com.
List of artists in the 2014 Yarn Bomb:
- Lillian Bates of By Design
- Ru Ritter
- Sarah Ansell- The White Pelican
- Sally Kirbach
- Jeanne Meyer
- Robin Berry
- Laura Blair of Blair Lair Studios
- Kelly Masinelli
- Sara McGibany - Alton Main Street
- Sandy Blair and Joe Helen Grimes of Fabric Plus
- Vicki Conley (Conley decorated the handicap sign post outside of the Ragin Cajun as a personal celebration of the day the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed on July 26.)
- Eric Kunkel and daughter, Autumn (age 13)
- Britta Haggard
- Jean and Mary Curvy (age 13)
Upcoming children’s events through Blair Lair Studios:
- Free children’s activities at The Alton Farmer and Artisan Market
- Aug. 16 Yarn Bomb Kids - Yarn Caterpillars! It’s exciting to make art on your own; come see what happens when we make it together! Join us and take part in a community yarn bomb installation at the Alton Farmers and Artisans Market. (we will make caterpillars, yarn dolls, pom poms, octopus, finger knit or whatever makes you happy)
- Aug. 23 Bubble Mania! - Finally! A place where you can blow bubbles! Not in your soda, not on the couch, not at the dinner table.... Come to Bubble Mania and let’s make bubbles and maybe even snakes? Fun for all ages!
- Aug. 30 GiAnt Marble Art - Let’s go big and roll the marbles! Join us as we explore mark-making in a big, exciting way!
- Sept. 27 Crowns, Tiaras, and Ears - Get sculptural as we design custom headdresses. Bring your imagination and come be a princess, king, or creature for the day.