Yarn

Yarn examines the exuberant work of four modern fiber artists. Icelandic Tinna Þórudóttir Þorvaldar is a “yarn-bomber” and graffiti artist who creates street art, covering objects in public spaces with hand-knitted and crocheted collages. Olek left Poland to find artistic freedom in New York; in her large abstract pieces she uses crocheted motifs the way a painter uses paint, or sews people into brightly-colored bodystockings and then leads them into the streets to engage passersby. Canadian Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam, born in Japan and once renowned for her gallery pieces, now fashions large, sturdy nets with valleys so that people—children in particular—can literally climb into her work. Tilde Björfors of the Cirkus Cirkör designs stage sets and equipment—involving acrobats and trapeze artists—that feature thick white netting, oversized cords, and giant-sized faux balls of yarn. The four artists are shown at work and in the environments that have inspired them—for Þórudóttir Þorvaldar in Iceland, herding sheep in the cold; for Olek, the streets of New York City; and for MacAdam, scenes of Japanese children at play. The artists also talk about women's long history of knitting, crocheting, and weaving in the home, and what those skills mean both domestically and as fine art. The comments are thoughtful while the work displayed here is playful, challenging, and sometimes truly stunning. Highly recommended. [Note: this is also available with public performance rights for $349 from Bond Educator, www.bondeducator.com.] Aud: C, P. (M. Puffer-Rothenberg)