Super-Sized Needle Arts Made Manly (UPDATE)
Katie Cordrey — February 28, 2009 — Art & Design
References: theknittingmachine & peppermags.blogspot
Boston artist Dave Cole describes his super-sized work as “combining the feminized domestic American tradition of knitting with the grandiose gesture of construction.” We've written about Cole's work before, but these pieces deserve a second look with some more pictures.
The Knitting Machine is comprised of two excavation tractors equipped with 20’ knitting needles. They are used to assemble a giant American flag in ‘big knit’ exhibitions. The concept was first thought out in miniature before it was undertaken in the bigger world.
Additional works by the artist include the knitting of a 15’ teddy bear made of fiberglass, and an evening gown made of shredded dollar bills... commentary on the assumptions we have about our world, from gender roles to materials usage.
The Knitting Machine is comprised of two excavation tractors equipped with 20’ knitting needles. They are used to assemble a giant American flag in ‘big knit’ exhibitions. The concept was first thought out in miniature before it was undertaken in the bigger world.
Additional works by the artist include the knitting of a 15’ teddy bear made of fiberglass, and an evening gown made of shredded dollar bills... commentary on the assumptions we have about our world, from gender roles to materials usage.
Trend Themes
1. Super-sized Needle Arts - Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the field of oversized knitting and needle arts, pushing the boundaries of traditional crafting.
2. Combining Construction and Knitting - Innovative opportunity to merge the feminized domestic tradition of knitting with large-scale construction techniques, creating unique and striking artworks.
3. Critiquing Assumptions with Knitted Art - Disruptive innovation potential in using knitting as a medium to challenge societal assumptions, exploring gender roles and materials usage.
Industry Implications
1. Art and Craft - Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the art and craft industry through the exploration of new techniques and materials in oversized knitting and needle arts.
2. Construction - Innovative potential for disruptive solutions that merge traditional construction practices with the art of knitting, expanding possibilities in architectural applications.
3. Fashion and Textiles - Disruptive innovation opportunity in the fashion and textiles industry by pushing boundaries of traditional materials and techniques through experimental knitted artworks.
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