Instead of using spray paint or drawing, these artists use yarn to decorate everyday things like trees, benches, and bikes. They turn plain spaces into colorful and eye-catching works of art. This type of art combines the coziness of handmade crafts with the boldness of outdoor art. It’s not just about making things look pretty — it’s about adding happiness, color, and a sense of togetherness to our streets.
Textiles are one of the top sources for microplastics.
If these aren’t 100% wool, they’re just fancy art that is slowly poisoning us. Especially fully outdoors where they have a chance to deteriorate faster due to long-term sun exposure.
If giant corporations can ruin the environment for profit I don’t see why some guerrilla knitters can’t make the place a little brighter
Microplastics and plastic pollution more broadly are definitely a problem and an artist should be aware of their materials and use ethical materials when available. However it seems a bit misguided to hold individual artists fully accountable for the pollution caused by the textile industry. It’s not individual artists and consumers that are producing plastics as the corporations that another commenter mentioned do. We should all look for sustainable materials and products when available, demand them when they aren’t and hold corporations account for the damage they do. I feel that art like this which reclaims public spaces and draws attention to those spaces is a great way to start conversations that are necessary in that regard as one step in that process.
How do you do a whole tree like that?? Do you just start knitting at the base and keep coming back? How do you get to the branches if you’ve already covered the trunk in sweater?
I guess we’ll never know.
In panels, then sew them onto the trees maybe?
Yep, you can see how they saw it close together in the pier ring picture. Also, knitted fabric can be done so it stretches a lot, that’s why it fits so nicely around odd shapes. The trees are still a lot of work to do, I’m quite impressed, I had only seen cilinders around the lower part of trunks.
How long before it looks like shit? Who cleans it up afterwards?
The one near me took a couple years to really fade. It’s mostly covered by Ivy that grew over it, but anyone could cut it down. Considering the somewhat progressive message I’m surprised nobody did so the day it went up.
