Corrine & Nancy AKA Jafabrit – Yarn Bombing, Knit Graffiti
Corrine & Nancy AKA Jafabrit – Yarn Bombing, Knit Graffiti
The Jafagirls have been doing knit graffiti for a while now, we didn’t know much about it at WG so they answered some questions…
WG – When did you first try the guerilla knitting, how did it occur to you?
Corrine – Nancy Mellon and I created a street art themed event for the Yellow Springs Arts Council in 2007.
It was during the research for a slide show and examples that we came across Knitta Please.
We were inspired to use left over knitting of Nancy’s to yarnbomb the tree outside the venue. It evolved into the much publicized “Knit Knot Tree”.
WG – Knitting and quilting is getting pretty popular in London at the moment with the new history of quilts exhibition going on. Why does it appeal to people you think?
Corrine – The sometimes visceral reaction to a bit of knitting on a tree or pole and the tongue in cheek borrowing of terminology to describe it has certainly challenged people’s comfort zones and elitist/territorial notions about use of materials and street art.
I think that appeals to the iconoclasts in us, as well as guerrilla knitting and craftivism opening a door creatively to a new generation. It’s also appealing to see how one can re-contextualize a material and a public space with a simple piece of knitting. There is also the camaraderie that comes with engaging in an activity such as this.
WG – Corrine you’re a great painter too, you get to paint much these days?
Corrine – Thanks I am currently obsessed with doing embroidery translations of my sketchbook and artwork for an upcoming exhibit so not painting as much.
WG – You can only knit with 2 colours for the rest of your life, what 2?
Corrine – That’s presuming we want to knit for the rest of our lives lol! Hum for Corrine black and pink wool, for Nancy deep blue and lime green, but you gotta have black, rats it’s impossible, to pick 2, we love colour too much!
Thing is we are not knitters per se, but artists who use knitting as part of our street art.
WG – Has this form of art been around long and how long have you been doing it?
Corrine – Magda Sayeg of Knitta started it in 2005 and the Jafagirls have been doing it since 2007. However our work has evolved to incorporate other elements and isn’t just guerilla knitting.
WG – What artists out there inspire you?
Corrine -Blek le rat, Banksy, C215, Basquiat, Kahlo, Lucien Freud, Chuck Close, Rauschenberg, Kiki Smith, just to name a few.
WG – What music you listening to at the moment?
Corrine -Everything lol! My tastes in music are the same as art, I LOVE a lot of styles. I do tend to fall back on ska a lot.
Nancy – Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, they make me happy.
WG – Anything planned for 2010?
Corrine – The jafagirls are working on the flower power project and some new guerilla textile work for a whole street in town.
Corrine -Doing work for a solo exhibit in October for my embroidery translations for a gallery in town.
Nancy – Organizing ATC show for July at the Village Artisans. Anyone is welcome to submit up to 8 Artist Trading Cards.
The Jafagirls are based in Yellow Springs Ohio, check out their various sites to see more of their artwork.
