As our Picket Knitters banner slowly grows we have received word that we an expect it to grow even further with support from “craftism” all the way from Portugal. It seems that the international “knit work” is wide and far as this article in “Portugal P” (an online Portuguese news service) points out. Under the headline “Wool Activism” attacks poles and trees with crochet and will bring the Mediterranean diet to Australia.” it’s nice to see that our campaign is still being recognised around the word. You can find the link to the story here: http://www.publico.pt/local/noticia/activismo-de-la-ataca-postes-e-arvores-com-crochet-e-vai-levar-a-dieta-mediterranica-a-australia-1628916#/12
With the English translation below:
“Wool Activism” attacks poles and trees with crochet and will bring the Mediterranean diet to Australia
What does have to do with crochet the McDonald’s? Everything, when the hands of Sonia Domingos of the Mediterranean diet in wool, a powerful argument which is put forward against the fast-food chain.
All over the country, trees and lamp postse unexpectedly arise Colorful, well they’re embraced by flowers, sometimes by more different geometric shapes or stripes. Spray cans are from North or South, place the crochet, giving rise to a new form of urban art movement – known as Yarn Bombing – started elsewhere, but that attacks in Portugal. And there are even those who have been invited to take this “wool activism” national to Australia, to fight against McDonald ‘s.
The artistic projects made of crochet or tricot are an urban art form created in 2004 in the Netherlands. Ana Edwards, founder of Facebook page Motion Yarn Bombing Portugal, told the audience that this is a move of defiance, rather like the graffiti, a spontaneous demonstration “. Began to be interested in this art in 2005. “Followed many international pages crafts [craft] and, in Portugal, the theme was very little known. So I decided to publicize the national urban crochet “.
Today, this urban art has invaded the streets from North to South of the country. Águeda, Aveiro, Coimbra, Sintra, Linda-a-Velha, Lisbon, Albufeira, Sagres, São Miguel, wood, are some of the locations where the urban crochet has appeared. Normally, not having the authorization of cameras and seals, the wool parts are removed or vandalized by unknown authorities, lasting so little time on the streets.
That’s what happened to Sonia initiatives Sunday for Lisbon. The huge colorful bra made for the statue childhood in Campo Grande in January 2013, disappeared the next day. But there are those who resist.
The draft sea of Emotions – Tree Trees Also Date, exposed in early February in the garden of Campo Grande, Sonja Sunday managed to assemble a team of 50 people to fill bases of wool, made for her, with leaves, hearts and crochet flowers, created by various contributors. It was the biggest installation you did until now and the more expensive. Had a cost of 100 euros, and usually spend 50 euros in skeins in their speeches. Today, two trees are decorated.
There are manuscripts Restorer 15 years, ventured into the Yarn Bombing two. “I created the project StoryMakers Portuguese Urban Crafts for storytelling and bring joy to the city of Lisbon”. Despite having learned crochet when I was nine with her grandmother in 2004 began to practice this art. Made of wool blankets and then passed them onto the streets. “The urban crochet gives the possibility to call attention to certain social issues.” And that’s your motivation and your goal.
Is what he calls “wool activism” and which gave rise to an unusual invitation about a month ago. The Australian activist group The Pichet Knitters – which is part of the movement “At Maccas in the Hills” – contacted to be part of a anti-McDonald’s initiative which will involve three other countries. The Portuguese chose to make the Mediterranean diet in crochet to represent the national example of healthy food versus fast food.
“I’ve been inspired in our culture and in the still lifes of Josefa d ‘ Óbidos, a Portuguese painter of the 20th century. XVI, to promote the Mediterranean diet “, explains Sonia Sunday to the public. The action will also feature works of crochet and knitting from USA, United Kingdom and South Africa.
The activist group wants to prevent the opening of a McDonald’s establishment, it will work 12:0 am a day, a green space that is a historical and tourist site of Tecoma, a town in Melbourne. Sonia Domingos accepted soon participate in the initiative. “The urban crochet should also serve to sensitize through driven political activism of wool,” he says.
The Panel of the Mediterranean diet has begun to be done and should be ready next month. The piece will be 1.20 meters and will feature the collaboration of several crocheters.
