Knitters ‘bomb’ Warhol Bridge with yarn
A ‘bombing’ took place in Pittsburgh over the weekend, and the Andy Warhol Bridge ‘exploded’ with color.
Around 250 volunteers with Knit the Bridge came together on Aug. 10-11 to give the bridge a knitted makeover – the largest “yarn bombing” to date in the U.S. with more than 600 knitted and crocheted pieces of various hues covering the bridge (also known as the 7th Street Bridge) to create a work of art.
A project of the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh, Knit the Bridge is a grassroots coalition of 1,847 knitting and crocheting artists throughout the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and Southwestern PA.
Knit the Bridge writes on its website: “Unlike graffiti, yarn bombing can be done without any damage to historic structures and is temporary and easily removable,” and that the project “celebrates the history of Pittsburgh as a city of bridges and steel as well as the region’s thriving, contemporary arts scene.” In other parts of the U.S. and the world, yarn bombings have covered things such as trees, parking meters, statues, cars and telephone poles.
Over the next several weeks, volunteers will be monitoring and maintaining the installation three times a day. The public can also help by calling the KtB hotline at 412-208-4324 and reporting damage or pieces in need of repair.
The installation will be on view through Sept. 6. The yarn panels that are still in good condition will then be cleaned and donated to senior citizen centers, homeless shelters and animal rescue groups.