Intervention. Join in.
Below are the details for the launch, in Belfast, but you'll see if you read on, I've already got UK and US tour dates booked.
WHERE: Street, outside the Ulster Hall and what used to be Larry’s piano bar, on Bedford St, Belfast.
WHEN: 6th July 2009.
TIME: 4:30pm COME ALONG! I’m planning to catch commuting Belfasters.
Why: MyTarPit, and Filth, have an urban art show called ‘Underground
Overground’ opening on the 6th July at 7pm as part of the TRANS
festival - general public are welcome to the opening and show will run
to 31st July.
It’s a mixture of graffiti, monsters, giant plushies and other such fab stuff.
I will be taking one of the giant plushies down onto the street to launch my intervention.
And what’s the intervention about:
Well, here’s my rough manifesto.
ROCKPOOL CANDY INTERVENTION: LET ME EASE YOUR DAY
A cell: a space devoid of textiles leading to human discomfort & dis-ease.
A home: a space filled with textiles (carpets, curtains, cushions, upholstery) leading to human comfort and ease.
Random acts of kindness oil our society and ease our day.
Yarn bombing, or leaving pieces of knitted and crocheted work in
public spaces, has proved to be a popular activity, but beyond a smile,
does it serve a purpose?
LET ME EASE YOUR DAY takes yarn bombing
and purposes it, encouraging people to create textile pieces, primarily
in the shape of cushions and rugs to be left in public spaces:
initially bus stops and park benches. Each cushion will bear the slogan LET ME EASE YOUR
DAY and be secured to a bench with corner ties. Above the
cushion will be a plaque reading:
“LET ME EASE YOUR DAY. This cushion is here to comfort your journey. Should you feel you need to take it home, you may. Should someone have already taken the cushion, why not replace it and ease a stranger’s day?”
To energise the project, a launch intervention will occur in each
city to charge up local interest. The intervention will take the form
of a taped-off lounge-room installation in the street with a giant,
open-armed MyTarPit plushie welcoming passers by to rest.
Sink
into a LET ME EASE YOUR DAY cushion, rest on a LET ME EASE YOUR DAY
carpet, and drink a cool glass of water offered by rockpool candy and
helpers wearing the LET ME EASE YOUR DAY logo.
Info about how to
take part in the project and spread it to other areas will be
available, along with print-out instructions on how to knit, crochet or
sew a LET ME EASE YOUR DAY cushion or rug.
This is my list of date so far:
Belfast 6th July.
Manchester early Sept tbc.
I Knit, 11th & 12th September, London.
Workshops, 14th- 19th September Shiplake College.
Take over the street, Reading, 20th/21st Sept
Alternative Fete, Southbank, 26th/27th September.
YarnCon, Chicago, 17th October.
Portland, San Fran, LA, NYC all in the pipeline, too.
Already the idea is expanding.
Being added to our list of textiles for people to make are:
zip-up rug bags during the winter,
napkins & tablecloths for day and drop in centres,
sleeping bags & tents for the homeless.
hats & socks
FORMAL RULES:
1) No text except 'LET ME EASE YOUR DAY' to appear on, or be attached to the item.2) No pity, self righteousness or piety allowed.
3) No religious icons, items or symbols allowed.
4) No money to be included. Donate to charities directly.
5) RESPECT! If someone doesn't want your gift, respect their wishes and move on.
6) Stay safe. Vunerability brings with it a whole host of problems. Take care of yourself on the streets.
7) Be sensible. Don't wrap your item in anything that's not see-through or leave where it could cause a security alert.
Hop on board. I’d love you all to take part.
rockpool candy, MyTarPit & Munroe
This is a lovely, original idea - I hope it all goes well. I have a stash of fabric scraps which I'm storing in a very long plastic bag - it looks like a 5ft fabric sausage! I live in NW London, and if any patchworker (?) can make use of it, and collect it - they're more than welcome to have it.
- thanks Shirley. This would be great for some of the UK dates. Unless anyone else gets in first, I'd love to pick them up for Reading and London dates.
rockpool candy
Posted by: Shirley Isaacs | Monday, June 29, 2009 at 09:49 AM
I will be writing about this project for a craft post on BlogHer (http://blogher.com) either Wednesday or Saturday of this week.
Hopefully you get some additional attention from this post.
And please let me know when you plan to do an intervention in San Francisco. I'd love to join you.
Posted by: deb | Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 02:33 AM