Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Redress

I suspect that those of you who only know me through this blog think of me as just an old-fashioned, tree-chopping he-man. The kind of guy who's most comfortable sitting around drunk in the cabin I built on a bluff outside of Laramie, watching monster truck rallies on satellite TV and picking my teeth with a matchbook cover.

But there's so much more to me, kids. When I'm not doing the watching-and-picking thing I love to check out what's happening in the art world. Hell, I'm an art junkie. Hang it on the wall or stick it on a pedestal under a spotlight and sure, I'll take a peek. High art, low art, folk art, insider, outsider, good, bad–whatever. In this day and age, I'm just happy that people are still doing something besides watching monster truck rallies and picking their teeth with matchbook covers.

My friend Nancy called me up and told me there was an installation I should check out at the School of the Art Institute's Sullivan Galleries (33 State Street, 7th floor– aka the old Carson Pirie Scott building). She said it wasn't just any art, it was art with knitting in it. Well, you don't have to tell me twice. (You do, actually. Sometimes more than twice, because I inhaled too much Paas Easter Egg dye as a child.)

So Nancy and I went to see the installation, Redress, and I liked it so much I went back again yesterday to take pictures and chat with the creators. It's a collaboration by three artists–Amber Ginsburg, Carla Duarte, and Lia Rousset, all students in the MFA program.

Redress is interactive.

Redress

A rail of thrift-shop sweaters is suspended from the ceiling; more are piled in one corner. Even more have been unraveled, and the reclaimed yarn is spooled around eight wheel rims (from wrecked bicycles) mounted on a wooden platform (salvaged from a warehouse). The yarn winds off the rims (as though from a swift), swoops across the room via a series of hooks, and hangs down above eight seats (more salvaged wood) where it is being turned into eight swatches.

Redress

RedressAnybody can knit on the swatches, and lots of people have. Afterwards, they can log their time on the appropriate time card.

The concept is simple, and the artists have done a good thing in not posting a notice explaining what it all means. You walk in, you knit (or watch the knitting) and you think your own thoughts and draw your own conclusions.

I was surprised as all heck at how much bubbled up in my brain during my visits. Knitting is something I do every day, and have done for so long that I generally don't think about it much. I should clarify: I think about what I'm knitting, but not the act of knitting.

Well, sitting in the middle of Redress I was suddenly very aware of my knitting again, almost as though I were a beginner, or a non-knitter watching a knitter. The knit stitch suddenly looked...odd. Alien.

And whenever I'd need more yarn, I'd pull on the suspended strand and the bicycle wheel would spin, and make a pleasant clicking sound. And that sound would remind me, "You are using more yarn." I became very aware of using up the raw material.Redress

Handling the yarn and seeing what was left of the original sweater, I started to think of the person who had run the knitting machine that made it. I wondered who it was, what the factory looked like, what they'd been paid. I wondered if they ever enjoyed the work, what they'd been paid. Was it a man or a woman? Was anything about the process pleasurable for them, or was it pure drudgery? And here I was, using the remains of their work to do...what, exactly?

There are no rules for the knitting, so at leisure I added or subtracted stitches, threw in yarn-overs, worked garter, ribbing, stockinette. It was the first time in a long time I've just played with yarn. And it occurred to me that this was a pleasure the maker of the original sweater had not had. S/he had churned out fabric on a knitting machine as ordered by some factory foreman, period. It made me consider what a privilege I enjoy, knitting what I want in whatever manner pleases me.

And other knitters were there, knitting, coming, going. It was a knitting circle like any knitting circle, except it wasn't. It was a knitting circle with a frame around it. A knitting circle with everything but the knitting removed. A knitting circle where none of us really knew what we were knitting. We were knitting to knit. We were knitters, and we were also art. And our knitting was knitting, and it was also art.

This all sounds jumbled, because so were my thoughts. They tumbled over one another like a cascade of marbles and by the time I left (I was only there for an hour) I felt exhausted and excited. See "art geek," above.

If you're in Chicago or can get here, Redress is open through February 21. Not much time left, but enough time to see it before it's gone. Go and have your own experience. And make sure to clock in and out.

Redress

94 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wish I could see it. The next best thing is hearing your experience of being there.

Anonymous said...

That sounds truly awesome. Wish I could have a chance at a few rows. Your description will need to suffice for now. Thank you!

Victoria said...

What an awesome concept. Totally love it.

Amy said...

Really interesting. I especially like the comment about being able to choose what you want to knit. We talk about being production knitters versus knitting for enjoyment, but really we all knit for our enjoyment, we choose what we make. That'd be so strange to not have the choice. Awesome exhibit.

Anonymous said...

If that was jumbled I don't care if you ever write a coherent art review. You game me a real feel for it. Thanks.

Leslie said...

Great (and extremely thoughtful) review but you mean you don't sit in a cabin in the woods, watching Monster Truck rallies on the satellite while drinking beer from the can and picking your teeth with a matchbook?

I'm bummed.

Red said...

cool! And I like what Amy said about us knitters really all knitting for pleasure, since none of us, or very few of us, have to knit for our food anymore.

MaryjoO said...

this posting/photos made my day -- sure wish we all had more blog posts like this.

Anonymous said...

Cool! Way cool. Kudos to the women who designed the installation. Thanks for the description.

I must note it never occurred to me that you would watch monster truck rallies or pick your teeth with a matchbook. The picture of you in your tux on the ocean liner doesn't line up with the matchbook toothpick (although it is very satisfying to get what-ever-it-was out of the tooth, finnally. Usually it just jamms cardboard into the tooth space as well). I don't actually see you in a rustic cabin in the woods either, although I am amazed at the complexity of some people. I guess I am just not that sensitive.

Leah

Anonymous said...

Watching monster trucks and picking your teeth are pretty much at the top of my list of Things-I-never-expect-to-see-Franklin do, and even having never met you and only knowing of you through your blog, it's absolutely hilarious to even TRY to imagine you doing those things! You delight me ;-)

And this post is wonderful. I'm a bicycling knitting, and though I've never done those two things at the same time, I am intrigued by the idea of those sweaters and the yarn and old rims and the knitting. I wish Montreal were closer to Chicago. I'd love to see that.

Anonymous said...

*sigh* I've had these fingers all my life and still I run into trouble whenever I get near a keyboard (which is pretty much every day all day long, so that gives you some indication of my daily challenges!

I'm a bicycling KNITTER, not a bicycling knittING

Esther said...

Thanks so much for posting this! I'm going to the main Art Institute Saturday afternoon; I think I'm going to have to head down early so I can check this out.

Anonymous said...

What a fantastic idea. How wonderful for you to not only see it but to participate as well. :)

Lauren said...

Wow, that sounds amazing. I almost wish I could make it out to the midwest!

Anonymous said...

okay, so, once it's done and they take it apart, it's not traveling anywhere else??? I googled it, and no further info.

PNWBookGirl said...

How very cool! This is something I could see happening here in the Portland area, just cause we swing that way. ;^)

Right now one of the 'projects' going on is the Knitnotwar and knitting 10o0 cranes. (http://knit-purlpdx.blogspot.com/2009/01/as-it-is-thursday.html)

Tami
http://pnwbookgirl.blogspot.com/

JelliDonut said...

Yes, it would be really cool if we knew the exhibit was going to travel. Thanks so much for posting this. It is very, very cool and I wish I could participate.

Mel said...

Actually, it's very possible that the makers of the original sweater may not have even touched the yarn beyond threading it into an automated loom or onto a linking machine. Very neat installation.

Cyndilou :) said...

Aw - too bad it will be gone by the time I get to come to Chicago. Thank you so much for sharing the experience with us! At least I get to see it vicariously. :D

Maybe by the time May rolls around more yarny goodness will show up somewhere up there... :)

Anonymous said...

That sounds so cool. Too bad I'm nowhere near Chicago.

dale-harriet said...

Oh, pure BRILLIANCE! Let's see...it ends Saturday, today is Wednesday and the weather's crappy. Nope, probably can't get there, but I'm VERY big on Vicarious Enjoyment and you've done it for me, thank you! (I've heard of getting used sweaters at thrifts, unravelling them in participating in their reincarnation - that's on my list. I mean, how COOL is that??)
Oh - what's going to be done with the rich community swatches when the exhibit ends?

Heather at Mad Rose Creations said...

What a wonderful experience! I'm so glad you took pix. Thanks so much for sharing this.

SallyT said...

WOW! I just wish I'd known in advance. My husband has several thrift store quality sweaters that need converting into art.

k1tbl said...

Very, very cool. Bitchen concept. (oops my So. Cal. talk is bleeding through.)

Anonymous said...

Too cool! Really interesting to use the reclaimed yarn. I love the idea of a bunch of knitters working on the same project - kind of reminds me of this scarf I read about once . . .

Now get back to your beer and trucks.

Anonymous said...

I love the idea of People being the Art.

Story said...

Sound amazing! Thanks for your great description of it and all your thoughts...I got to feel a little like I was there. Makes me wish it would travel to my neck of the woods....

Anonymous said...

That sounds so cool! And yeah, I never really thought of you as a monster truck rally type. I tend to forget monster truck rallies exist actually. Pretty bizarre concept.

C Ste Croix said...

You write beautifully. I am inspired.

Anonymous said...

Wow how awesome is that? I wish it would come to NY. You always find the neatest things Frankilin... Thanks for sharing :)

Renee said...

Love this! Wish I could see it too.

Anonymous said...

That exhibit looks thrilling. Alas I am too far away to see it.

Love This Space said...

Did the wheels have a playing card in them? Because that would just make it even MORE fun!

knitty_kat said...

Thank you for sharing this. It sounds like it was a fabulously interactive & reflective experience.

Anonymous said...

So awesome. I absolutely love this concept as an installation!
Thank you for posting this, Franklin. :)

Anonymous said...

And that, imnsho, is one of the things that art can do for us -- draw us in, make us think about something, involve us in the art. Wonderful.

Anonymous said...

Holistic experience, well-communicated.

Matchbook covers only work well as toothpicks if the teeth are widely spaced.

My verification word is hogogamo!

monica said...

Oh MY Gosh, that exhibit needs to travel all around the country and it really needs to come here to Portland, Ore because I want to knit on it :)

Anonymous said...

How wonderful! I loved both the tale and your musings. Isn't this precisely what art is supposed to do -- bring us into another realm? Looks like this exhibit really hit all the spots. I wish it would come to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Anonymous said...

That is fabulous. I wish I could experience it. Thank you for sharing yours.

Anonymous said...

"an old-fashioned, tree-chopping he-man"...(tee hee) (snort) ROTFLMAO

smooches & huggies!

Lynne said...

Wow! What a great idea. Simple but complex - as many great ideas are!

Susie said...

I'm not much of an art fan but this looks fantastic! Wonder if it's coming to NYC.

Alwen said...

That's fascinating. Thanks for giving me probably my only glimpse of it!

junior_goddess said...

Yes, absolutely, the monster truck pull, right after you get out of prison. Take the bus there.

heh.

It's true, when we knit, we tend to think about who we are knitting for, or the pattern we are knitting. But I don't forget my mother sitting on the old vinyl recliner going "acccch! I made mistake." Or my first experience with a Bond (before they were USMs and ISMs) makes me think about my grandmother crafting at home during the Depression to make extra cash.

We are linked.

Tracey said...

Wish I could see it myself, but I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing your jumbled thoughts!

I especially liked it when you'd pull on the yarn and the rim would click. That reminder would actually be a very neat thing to have in "home" knitting, too. Hmm...

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh! I wonder if they have considered taking this on a city-by city tour across the US? I would love to be a part of something like this!

It could kinda be the next step in your 1,000 knitters project, couldn't it?

Anonymous said...

That sounds amazing! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your experience! I so wish I could get there. I wonder if the installation will travel? Maybe to Philadelphia?
I can dream, can't I?

Anonymous said...

Sounds of a swift: my husband liked the wood-on-wood wail of mine. Reminded him of the wind in the rigging.

Anonymous said...

Ah Franklin it sounds wonderful. I have a similar love of art but to see it used in a knitting context is truly facinating. Thanks for blogging it otherwise I would never have known. Looking forward to seeing the inspiration come through to your work too. Jacqueline x

Christy D. said...

That sounds like the most wonderful art installation ever! I'm pretty sure I won't make it to Chicago by the 21st, so thank you for sharing that with us.

Anonymous said...

3 days to get to Chicago...not going to happen...damn...thank goodness you went and shared with all of us!

Anonymous said...

Well Shit! I'm flying to NC in a few hours and won't return to Chicago until Monday. That looks like fun....

Vicki Knitorious said...

Thank you for sharing this and your thoughts -- which you may feel were jumbled, but it all made perfect sense to me! Wish I could see the show.

Phro5gg said...

Sounds like a wonderful break from knitting monster truck cozies and beer can hats to wear to those all night keggers at the cabin. Can't wait to see the felted moose head on the wall.

Unknown said...

Wow. Sounds pretty amazing. I'd be traveling to see it if ihad known earlier and could cover my shifts for this weekend. As it stands, it's not going to happen. I don't suppose the exhibit would be travelling would it?

Cooking With Yarn said...

How totally freaking awesome is that?!?!

Thanks for sharing! (and returning to take pictures)

One Sock Short said...

Cool. Thanks for posting this. I will hie me there tomorrow!

Anonymous said...

Beautifully written post, Franklin, with much food for thought about knitting by both machines and people. The installation sounds fantastic and accessible.

Knitting Linguist said...

Oh, wow. Thank you so much for describing this for those of us who can't get to Chicago. What an amazing work of art! (I wonder if it's travelling? I want it here!)

LaurieM said...

Sounds really great. I like that kind of art. Much better than the deconstructionist, post-apocalypse, modernist stuff our local art gallery likes to through at us. Their motto seems to be "If it ain't dark, it ain't art!"

Paul Overton said...

Great post. Thank you. I'm going to post a link on dudecraft.com today. Great blog btw.

Anonymous said...

How wonderful is that? It makes me wish we were still in Milwaukee - I'd be down there in a heartbeat.

ReesieAnn said...

That is just AWESOME in every sense of the word! Thank you so much for sharing it.

Anonymous said...

Wow do I wish I was nearer to Chicago!! I would love to see that and knit some. Thank you for sharing it, it's awesome! samm

joan said...

I so enjoyed your description of this wonderful event. Will you be able to update us on the possible future of this exhibit? Or of the end uses of those swatches? Hopefully some creative juices have started flowing in other communities. Thanks for sharing.

Cara said...

I'm sad that I won't be able to make it to Chicago before it ends, but thank you for your insights.

I have been knitting less and less lately, and reading about your pleasure in just playing with yarn gave me the insight that I am not having fun anymore because it has become a chore -- I am marking off projects that I have started or that I said I would do for someone, but not knitting something just for my own joy. So today I am casting on something just for my own pleasure, and to hell with all the things I promised. I think I need to remind myself this is my hobby, not my job. (ironically, art is my job) Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Fascinating!
L

Anonymous said...

That is so awesome! I wish I could participate, but living in CA and getting to Chicago would be an issue. Thanks for telling us about it!

Molly Bee said...

How interesting! I may have to broaden my art horizons beyond my dogs playing poker painting and my Velvet Elvises (Elvi?) and take in this exhibit! What a great concept! (Actually I can't claim art ignorance any more since I am now the proud owner of...an ORIGINAL Franklin Habit (echo, echo, echo......)

Anonymous said...

No, no, no. You pick your teeth with a KNIFE.

Sheesh.

Karin said...

That is soo cool, and I wish I could hop on a plane and go see it. Thank you so much for posting about that and taking pictures. It didn't sound jumbled to me at all.

Randi said...

I sure wish I could see that exhibit. But thanks for your great description. That was the next best thing.

Amber Ginsburg said...

Franklin and all,

Reading your comments has been stunningly encouraging.

We wanted to address the questions asking if redress will travel. We certainly hope it will hit the road since there are still plenty of sweaters to harvest. We are in the process of applying to different venues in cities across the country. We will post the next opening to The Panoticon and hope to see you there.

Amber, Carla, and Lia

Anonymous said...

thank you. seriously, this is awesome. we are half-contemplating whether we can drive all night from huntsville to get there in the morning to see it tomorrow and drive back sunday :)

hope it travels. I can't think of many better ways to spend an afternoon than in the middle of this exhibit...

Ali P said...

"Well, you don't have to tell me twice. (You do, actually. Sometimes more than twice, because I inhaled too much Paas Easter Egg dye as a child.)"
HA HA!!!! I still have a furtive addiction to sniffing boxes of fresh Crayola crayons and my kid's white Elmer's School Glue. OOOH and remember the work sheets that teachers would pass out printed in purple ink??? Mimeographs?? Oooh they smelled sooo goood....
(drifts off on a childhood smells flashback...)......
The art exhibit looks and sounds fascinating, by the way. I find your insights and experiential comments of working the yarn in the installation very interesting. Wish it would come north.

Eileen said...

I wish I still lived in Ann Arbor; I'd be on the train tonight!

You give good vicarious thrills. =^.,^=

My cats want to see it, too...you should see them "helping" while I wind yarn off my (reproduction) antique swift.

You write good reviews...think of it, a new career running around the world, reviewing fiber art installations. You'd be brilliant (and think of all the trouble Delores could get into world-wide).

Anonymous said...

Laramie, eh? I miss the innocence from when I believed that Laramie was my true home.

Anne O'Nymous said...

Phro5gg's idea would be a good premise for a men's knitting retreat, if only for the staging of one picture.

Assigned class activities and gender roles bedamned.

Anonymous said...

Lordy, Franklin- I wanna go dere! I have the perfect pattern to add in... some easy but luscious lace :) Oohh.... What fun. Add interest! The sky's the limit! (getting slightly crazed look and pondering lace stitches and maybe a few cables). From the Sock-Shaped State, ==Marjorie

S. said...

Wow, fabulous. Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing. That is so awesome!

Anonymous said...

Awesome. I agree with Bill Engvall, in that this particular word should be reserved for those things which are truly wonderous or awe-inspiring. So I'll say it again, this time with feeling ... awesome!

stumbled over here from another Raveler's blog

cloudnyn said...

absolutely fascinating. thank you so much for sharing your experience. would that i lived in closer proximity.

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