Why does some Yarnbombing last for years and others disappear in a matter of hours?  Where do they end up and who is taking it down?

We called the council, the police station and the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre.  Everyone we spoke too was delighted and intrigued, yet upset that they too had missed out on the artwork. 

The next afternoon we found this message.

Why does some Yarnbombing last for years and others disappear in a matter of hours?  Where do they end up and who is taking it down?

We called the council, the police station and the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre.  Everyone we spoke too was delighted and intrigued, yet upset that they too had missed out on the artwork. 

The next afternoon we found this message.

I saw knitting round a pole,

saw colour on a sign.

I saw doilies round a maple

and 6 ply in a line.

I wore black when I did it.

I saw luck and I weaved

a bomb of green sheep coat

now on the bench relieved.

Loop after loop I loosened

and stress dissolved as salt,

now proudly poised atop a sign:

such an agreeable assault.

Why take the world frowning?

Why take it unawares?

Be there in the present

and share your woolly wares.

Acknowledge what’s forgotten;

reclaim what has been dulled;

brighten someone’s day

and monotony’s annulled.

Be stealthy for a night and

let others see your knits —

with threads of heart wound round

warming naked street bits.

Snap that little scene

and put it here to view;

all lovebombs to burst brightly

with thanks from us to you.

Kate Mary. 2011

As we installed the yarn balls onKing Street, Newtown this afternoon, a woman approached us from the crowd.  She bent over us and inquired in false joy, ‘What is the point of all this? Why don’t you actually knit something for some one who needs it?’  I couldn’t hold back my first thought – ‘Why don’t you?’

It took three months to piece together all the knitting that would today cover three of the seven balls that are cemented into the pavement at the hub.  It took eight people to knit all the panels needed to fill in the pattern.  It took 20 minutes  and three people to install the balls and 30 minutes to take the photos.  It then took another 15 minutes before we could bring ourselves to walk away.

As we walked back to the car I turned back and sore a tiny boy running towards a ball, arms open and laughing as he ran.  He stretched his arms as wide as he could and smiled up at his dad.  Another woman was lifting her child up onto the balls, getting him to smile for the camera as she crouched behind the lens.

So what is the point of all this?  Head to Newtown and find out.

Image courtesy of Jennifer Manley

These images where sent to us by Jen.  She took them when she was traveling through Wollongong on her way to Sydney.  We aren’t sure who is the Artist or Artists, but we w0uld love to find out.  If anyone knows where this fantastic piece of Yarnboming originated please let us know.  Its so great to see it always popping up along your travels. 

The First Panels to be returned.

reach our target, if not cover more than we ever hoped for.

Image courtesy of Richard Graham