Yarn art comes to Rahway City Hall
RAHWAY - As the flowers bring color and life to Rahway's gardens, the Rahway Arts and Business Partnership (RABP) has bought color and life downtown. The YARN ART! installation at City Hall is the latest Pop Up Art project initiated by the RABP.
“Even though arts programs are being defunded across America, Rahway as a community has a commitment to the arts. As the Rahway Arts and Business Partnership, we try to enhance the downtown through the arts," Executive Director Amy Garcia Phillips said.
“Choosing yarn and installing it at Rahway City Hall solidifies that art is accessible to everyone in the community. Art doesn't have to be high brow,” Managing Director Ann Marie Williams said.
Pop Up Art projects are temporary art exhibits that add to a city’s landscape. They create welcoming spaces for the community, instill pride in ones town and brighten a
public space.
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“We had seen some examples of yarn graffiti done in other towns and thought it would
be fun to bring to Rahway. Since neither Amy nor I have any experience with knitting,
we reached out to Rahway Recreation Center’s knitting instructor, Linda Grant," Williams said.
“Linda is a true artist and created pieces, especially for the trees, that make you stop and enjoy the whimsical characters. We are blown away by her talent," Garcia Phillips added.
The three women reached out to a local fabric store, Jo-Ann’s Fabrics, to help with the project. The manager was excited to hear about the project and was able to work out a deal on skeins of yarn in the bright colors that were needed.
To create the pieces, the women reached out to local knitting groups and artists. Flowers were created by staff at Rahway’s Franklin Elementary school, Kathleen Brindle, Marlene Olsen Hamm, Jenny Brown and Erika Wright-Rich. On the day of installation the RABP assembled a crew consisting of, Brindle, Olsen, Daija Robinson and Donna Grybowski. Directed by Grant, characters were hung, a garden of flowers popped up along Milton Avenue, and Rahway City Hall Plaza was brought to life.
“Best Arts and Crafts Day ever," Garcia Phillips said.
“The YARN ART! project will be up through the summer.” Williams said. “When it starts to look worn, we will take it down. Until then, we hope everyone will come by to enjoy the Pop Up Art."