Source: MIL-OSI Submissions
Source: MOTAT
The MOTAT trams are getting yarnbombed with over 300m of woollen artwork.
Across Aotearoa, over 150 people have come together to create 300 metres of impressive wool artwork and bunting to yarnbomb the MOTAT trams this Worldwide Knit in Public Day (WWKIPD), Saturday 12 June.
The big, bright and eye-poppingly colourful artworks decorating the MOTAT Trams this Saturday are a collaborative effort from knitters and crocheters from as far south as Christchurch; with the youngest crafter aged 3 and the eldest aged 87.
WWKIPD started in 2005 as had been growing every year, especially yarnbombing, also known as crochet and knit graffiti. Yarnbombing combines installation art, knitting, crochet, and street art.
As well as yarnbombing the MOTAT Trams, passionate knitters will also be hosting talks for all MOTAT visitors throughout the day and hosting knitting tutorials on the trams as they move through Western Springs.
Event organiser and head of Community String Knitting Adventures, Sue Elliot says, “I live above Western Spring’s Park so the presence of MOTAT and the trams are part of our daily lives and I’m old enough to have really fond memories of the trams in Auckland from my early childhood.”
“I had this bright idea that we could make a heap of bunting and then hijack the tram on WWKIPD. So, I rang Lissy (Cole) and asked if she was up for the project- and things evolved from there.”
Lissy and Rudi Cole are artists widely known for their innovative and colourful art that is inspired by their wairua and tīpuna. Their Kaupapa is to express joy through colour, art, and imagination and has been displayed in several exhibition spaces including the current TOI Ō TĒNEI AO & TOI TUKU IHO exhibition at the Auckland International Gallery.
16 years into WWKIPD, and the aim remains to inspire people to learn how to knit or crochet and to talk about the craft. Some events focus on teaching, while others focus on the creation of the art.
Visitors can see the yarnbombed MOTAT tram (and tram stop!) on Saturday 12 June from 10am – 4pm FOC at MOTAT, Great North Road, Western Springs.
Lissy and Rudi Cole’s inspirational talks will be held at MOTAT at 11am and 2pm. General admission ticketing costs apply to access these inspirational talks.
