About Us 2010

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An Interveiw

How did this start?

I saw a book  called

“YarnBombing” and saw pictures of knitting and crocheting out on the street on poles and trees and I was thrilled. I couldn’t believe I had never thought of doing that , it made so much sense to me.I intended to do all kinds of street art but the knitting is just too much fun to stop.

How many people are therein Streetcolor?

There is myself and my apprentice who I call the Russian. I dye the fiber , spin the yarn on a drop spindle, design most of the peices and knit. The Russian knits, does some design and we both sew up the knitting.

Why are you doing this?

I really like the idea of people running into art on the street while they are just in their regular life, of art being ordinary but provocative and beautiful.It does supprise the folks who notice the poles and they usually seem very pleased by them. To make art and be able to immediately interact with another person about it is unusual and satisfying. I’ve made so much art and sold it and never known how anyone felt about it. And finally, it is so much fun to do this much knitting.

What are your plans?

I want to put knitting up all over Berkeley. It’s very entertaining to look at every pole as a possible are object. I love seeing them.The street looks so much prettier with knitted poles.

Questions People Ask And That I Ask Myself

What are you doing? What does this mean?

Our stock answer at this point while we are standing out on the street sewing these knitted socks onto poles is ” This is an art installation all over Berkeley of these knitted pieces that are called yarn bombs ”  Some people are very perplexed by the term ” Yarn Bomb”, So we add ” It’s a form of graffiti”.This explanation seems to satisfy most people. But it doesn’t really say what it means, it’s just a description.

It’s street art obviously and has an excitement for me of being able to make art and put it anywhere I want to. In that way it subverts the idea that art should be inside in a gallery being judged by experts.By putting it out on the street it breaks down the barriers of what is art.

Why are you anonymous?

I want the work to be just about itself and not about our egos and being very Important. It is so freeing to be anonymous, It removes all the rules I had for myself, I wish I had made up another name a long time ago.
Tell us more about The Russian

The Russian is a young person who is a burgeoning artist who is being forced to knit more than you can possibly imagine. Actually The Russian really likes to knit and is great to discuss art theory with while we sew .

The Big Question !

What are you going to do when it rains?

The knitting should hold up to rain, wool can get wet. I guess they may swell and fall down. They were never intended to last forever,  they are like street flowers.