Thursday 10 May 2012

Knitted Graffiti


Photos Copyright: Maggie May

Whilst helping my son to walk the dogs round one of the local parks last week, we stumbled on this tree that was covered in colourful knitting.
 It is otherwise known as Knitted Graffiti.
Some people spend a lot of time and effort making this type of covering for trees, lamp posts and anything else that looks as though it would be easy to dress.
I can't say that I'm an ardent fan but neither am I against this kind of art work. Bristol is well known for it's street art but so far this is the first graffiti clad tree that I have spotted.

I expect it would have to be done under the cover of darkness, don't you think?
I will be interested to know how long it will be before the Council cut it down. (The knitting not the tree.)

Does anyone like knitted graffiti or is it a waste of wool?

In the mean time, I am rather hoping that it will be left alone.


It would take a lot of wool to cover this large, gnarled tree, wouldn't it?

24 comments:

Irene said...

I like it and wish I would see some around here. I appreciate the effort made and no harm is done to the tree. xox

Celia said...

Amazing, it is showing up all over the world. Here in Walla Walla someone dressed the sculptures on the downtown streets in knits too.

dianefaith said...

I'm a knitter, and we talked about doing some yarn bombing around the light poles that line the street here. Yarn on trees and light poles does get our attention, and it can make us smile. So many public places are without character and whimsey and this seems an attempt to fix that. With all of that said, I don't particularly like the looks of it, and we never did it here (not because of MY opinion, just never got around to it).

Jinksy said...

I'd rather see the perpetrators making their 2 or 3 dimensional art
on its own, with the trees left to what they do best - being trees!

Dimple said...

Well, I agree with the other commentators: it made me smile, it won't hurt the tree, it adds whimsey. I wouldn't do it myself because I want my knitting to to do other things, like clothe me or someone else, or be useful around the house. But that's me.
It seems that graffiti is catching attention more now, and the yarn variety is less obnoxious than that of paint, IMO!

CorvusCorax12 said...

I think it's cute and would love to see it.

Anonymous said...

I love guerrilla knitting! Saw lots of lamp posts in the US covered in colorful knits!

Rosaria Williams said...

I've known bloggers from Australia who engaged in this type of art, and did it to make a creative statement, as all outdoor artists are want to do. It does call attention to the tree, doesn't it?
Anything that doesn't deface, and allows us to pause and interpret, is admirable.

Mimi said...

I think it looks nice, but wonder what it will be like in a few month's time, when it's been rained on.

Sally Wessely said...

I've not seen this in person, but I've read about it. I guess if someone has that kind of time on their hands, they could use the yarn and the time to knit for the elderly, or for babies, or for the homeless. That would be making a statement in a more positive, helpful manner.

Jackie said...

First time I've seen or heard of it. I don't know... I don't like graffiti of any kind.
I think the tree looks beautiful just the way it is (was) before the knitting was added.

Akelamalu said...

I like it. Much better than carving initials into the tree don't you think? :)

Rose said...

It's certainly creative, much better than spray painting! But I much prefer the naked trees like the beautiful old tree in your last photo.

The way I knit, it would take me a year to knit one tree cover:)

Sueann said...

I think it is great. Hope they keep it.
Hugs
SueAnn

Suburbia said...

I love it :-)

Suldog said...

I think it's a fun thing. Doesn't seem like any real harm could come of it, so why not? But, do they knit it onto the tree, or make it first then somehow get it on the tree?

(I'm abysmally ignorant about knitting.)

Brian Miller said...

i think it is pretty cool...actually i see more on street signs and post than trees...i dont know how good it would be for trees...

Jeni said...

I've never seen anything like that here in the end of the world! At least not yet anyway. This year though, considering the early arrival we seemed to have for spring and then, the return of winter a few weeks after the nice weather had hit, I think many of our trees and shrubs may have benefited greatly from some warm sweaters and such! My two favorite apple trees down the road from my house did have a lot of blossoms on them before winter came back and now, I worry if either of them will produce anything this fall! My azalea bush in front of my house is merely a bush of what appears to be dead twigs too! Sad but true -and maybe we need to take up making cover-ups for these plants and trees!

CiCi said...

I like any form of art. I like people expressing themselves in any way they are led. The tree is probably enjoying the attention.

FeltByRae said...

I love yarn bombing, such fun! I still haven't seen any in real life yet, but I live in hope!

Secret Agent Woman said...

I like it - it doesn't do any damage to the trees or lamp posts and it isn't permanent. Just a temporary appearance of color.

Happy Frog and I said...

I like it and it was good to finally see some. I've been hearing a lot about it on local radio but haven't actually seen any before.

Hilary said...

I think it's fun and it won't bring any harm to the tree. I just prefer to see it warm up the "cold" objects like lamp posts, poles and fences rather than the already beautiful and warm trees.

Anonymous said...

I've never seen a graffiti knitted tree before!! It does look very colourful and should definitely be left there.

CJ x