Knit-ins for guerrilla graffiti

Annie Hackett, of Georgie’s Cafe, and 10-year-old Samuel Page with some of the knit-wear for the Clarence Valley guerrilla knitting project. Photo: JOJO NEWBY

GRAFFITI in the Clarence Valley is about to get warm and fluffy due to a “guerrilla knitting” project by the Grafton Regional Gallery that was launched this week as part of a touring exhibition of artistic beanies.

Guerrilla knitting involves people being creative with wool anywhere they like, anywhere in public, and then leaving their handiwork for everyone to see.

It can be wrapped around park benches, trees or poles or used to adorn garden edges, anything is possible, said Jude McBean, director of the gallery.

It is considered by some to be as colourful and artistic as good graffiti. “But is harmless because it can be easily removed,” said Mrs McBean.

To be involved in the gallery’s project, people need to display their knitted artwork in one of the designated hotspots, take a photo of it and send it to the gallery.

The hotspots include: Grafton Regional Gallery, Grafton Branch Library, Memorial Park Grafton, McLachlan Park Maclean or Skinner St South Grafton, close to The Emporium. The project runs to July 12.

People are encouraged to knit in groups or with friends at someone’s home or out in public, said Mrs McBean.

If people want help from an expert, members of the Grafton Knitters Guild and the Grafton Fibre Crafters Group will be holding Knit-In sessions between 10.30am and 11.30am each Tuesday at the gallery while the project is running.

Both the cafe at the gallery and The Emporium will have knitting equipment on hand for people who want to socialise and knit, or just want a warm comfortable environment to knit in.

The Guerrilla Knitting community arts project coincides with the Colours of the Country II, an exhibition of hand-made beanies from the Alice Springs Beanie Festival.

This festival started as a simple community arts project and has blossomed into an international event embraced by many cultures, Mrs McBean said.