Columbia’s Main Street gets a yarn bomb makeover

Main Street got yarn bombed and it’s awesome

A group of guerrilla knitters attacked Main Street this week. Their weapon of choice: yarn.

Trees, signs, parking meters, lampposts and bike racks along the 1500 block are now swaddled in colorful stitching. The temporary street art is called yarn bombing and its aim is to delight.

Also known as “grandma graffiti,” yarn bombing is a fuzzy phenomenon that has inspired knit creations on everything from buses to bridges across the world.

“Yarn bombing is not a new concept, but we certainly wanted to bring some color and something different to Columbia,” One Columbia executive director Lee Snelgrove said. One Columbia provided monetary support for the project, which was spearheaded by Anastasia & Friends gallery manager Bohumila Augustinova. Pilates Bodies by Victoria also donated money.

Augustinova and a group of about 20 local knitters and crocheters worked for three months on the yarn bombs.

“When we started, I brought everyone to Main Street and said, ‘Pick what you want to cover.’ We measured it up and went from there,” she said.

The result is a parking meter wearing what looks like a blue and yellow legwarmer. A tree decorated in Harry Potter-themed stitching. Another tree covered in fabric flowers and butterflies. And a street sign draped with butter-yellow yarn adorned with tons of pom poms, one of Augustinova’s favorites.

“It looks so happy,” she said.

The yarn creations will stay up until November, but don’t wait to enjoy them.

OTHER ARTS EVENTS AROUND TOWN

USC Sunday concert series

This popular concert series, featuring University of South Carolina music faculty, opens its 2016-17 season with performances of the works of Brahms and Beethoven. The program includes music faculty Donald Gray, baritone; Sharon Rattray, piano; Rachel Calloway, soprano; Ari Streisfeld, violin; and Joseph Racker, piano.

3 p.m. Sunday at the USC School of Music Recital Hall, 813 Assembly St. $15 adults; $10 seniors, USC faculty and staff; $5 students. www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/music

‘Bullets and Bandaids’

“Bullets and Bandaids” is a silent art auction to raise money for the Upstate Warrior Solution.

The event pairs local veterans and artists. The artwork is accompanied by short stories on the veterans’ experiences.

5-9 p.m. Thursday at The Wired Goat, 709 Gervais St.

Rosewood Art & Music Festival

In its sixth year, the Rosewood Art & Music Festival is a balance of visual and performing arts. Two stages provide music all day, surrounded by 60 artist’s booths.

10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 10 at The Rockaway Athletic Club, 2719 Rosewood Drive. Free. www.rosewoodfestival.com/

This story was originally published September 1, 2016 at 3:01 PM with the headline "Columbia’s Main Street gets a yarn bomb makeover."