Painting the City…with Yarn?

I have been debating writing this post for awhile now.  I’m not sure exactly what’s been holding me back.  I guess the thought that maybe this topic isn’t quite interesting enough, or maybe I’m the only person who thinks it’s cool.  But, if I think it’s cool, I’m going to venture out there to think that some of you probably think it’s cool too.  Alright, enough already, you say? What on earth am I talking about? Why, I’m talking about yarn bombing, of course.

Check out all of SnapTheWorld’s pictures on Flickr. They’re amazing!

Last summer, somebody yarn bombed these trees near Dan’s parents’ house.  I have been intrigued ever since.  I love how it’s this soft form of graffiti.  I mean, who could be angry about a yarn bomb? And yet, if you are, you can just cut it off and it’s gone.  It was interesting to see how long the yarn bombs on the trees lasted (a few weeks).  I’m not sure why they came down – maybe the “bombers” took them somewhere else?

photo by Peter Norris of cathedral in Helsinki

I mean, seriously.  Wouldn’t you FREAK out if you walked to work and saw that? I know I would! Talk about a way to break up the monotony of life.

by jenniferpkim on flickr

In this original take on a yarn bomb, jenniferpkim put grass seeds inside each circle to see if they would grow.  I’m not sure if they ever did, but I think it’s such a bright take on beautifying your world.

a fun take with cross stitch

Pac-man anyone? Yarn bombing (errm…cross stitch bombing?) can be fun and cheeky, too. Also from this site is the picture below – they call it street embroidery.  Either way, I just love how it switches up the routine and brings color and warmth to the city.

Just look at those little boys checking out that chair! I want to sit in it! Don’t you?

Yarn Bombing at the Blanton Art Museum in Austin, TX

I just love yarn bombing as an artistic and perhaps political/sociological(?) statement. It makes me feel like people around me care about these trees/chairs/steps and are taking the time to decorate them and protect them and shower them with love.  After all, isn’t that what we do to things we care about? Why not show our appreciation for the world around us and do some yarn bombing?  Of course, for me and my incredibly amateur knitting skills a “simple” yarn bomb would take a year to pull off!