The idea of using art to create communal spaces runs like a common thread through The Zurich Archipelago. Thread itself – as both material and connecting element – is also at the heart of the Community Knitting activities. Even before the art festival began, an open call invited anyone interested to contribute a 30 x 30 cm knitted or crocheted square. Participants were free to choose the color and pattern. The first contributions were collected at the opening, with more being added throughout the art festival. Crochet workshops open to people of all ages are held regularly at the Britto Arts Trust b amboo pavilion in Platzspitz Park. Beginners can also receive on-site support and guidance. Ultimately, all contributions will be sewn together into a large patchwork blanket that can be used for gatherings, picnics and other activities in public spaces.
The Community Knitting activities draw on the practice of guerrilla knitting – also known as yarn bombing, knitting graffiti or urban knitting. “Knitta Please” was one of the earliest movements of this kind and began in the USA in 2005. In the 2010s, the concept spread to Europe and is now experiencing a revival through renewed interest in DIY culture and craft traditions. In guerrilla knitting, handcrafted objects are attached to elements of public infrastructure or placed within the landscape – on streetlights, trees, fences or monuments. The collective creative process reinforces the sense of community and participation that underpins The Zurich Archipelago. This form of intervention also offers a way of reclaiming public space in an environment increasingly shaped by privatization and overregulation.
Location
Platzspitz Park, near the Music Pavilion
Platzpromenade 5, 8001 Zurich
Group Knitting and Crocheting
June 10 · 2–4 p.m.
June 24 · 2–4 p.m.
July 8 · 2–4 p.m.
Piecing Together Blankets
June 6 · 4–8 p.m.
June 28 · 2–5 p.m.
July 12 · 2–5 p.m. · with picnic
Drop-in participation
No registration required
Please note the awareness concept.
Contribution
Ahead of the event, everyone is invited to create knitted or crocheted pieces and bring them along to the site. Open Call
Special Thanks
Sabrina Schumacher
Handarbeitstreff Alter- und Pflegezentrum Grünhalde
Interkulturelles Kreativ Studio, Projekt von Solinetz und Reformierte Kirche Bullingerhaus
Die Bewohner*innen des Gesundheitzentrums Trotte
Stricktreff GZ Loogarten
Die strickenden Bewohner*innen des Alters- und Pflegezentrum Herrenbergli