April 2009

Knitting Art: 150 Innovative Works from 18 Contemporary Artists by Karen Searle. Voyageur Press; 1st edition (October 10, 2008)

The artists featured in this book are just the tip of the iceberg of contemporary artists working with knitting. Barb Hunt knits soft pink wool into precise replicas of land mines, which she says is a healing process allowing her to cope with the horrors around her. Janet Morton’s knitted sculptures playful look at everyday objects, she is asking questions about value and time – what is beauty? How is value assigned? Mark Newport uses the textile processes of knitting and embroidery to examine traditional male and female roles. His knitted superhero suits convey a softness in stark contrast to their macho heroic image. He learned to knit first from his grandmother then from his wife and this process helped in examine his own role as a father.

Some other artists included in the book are Anna Maltz and her knitted naked suits, Lisa Anne Auerbach and her machine knitted slogan sweaters, Lindsay Obermeyer and her connected sweaters with fifteen-foot-long sleeves, Debbie New and her portrait rug made from granny squares, and lots more.

I love this book and want to see more fibre artists recognised in this way.

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