GOOD YARNS: Trading Post
There’s no missing Wing-Yee Tong‘s colourful installation for Art on the Danforth and she’s right there working with it (and on it), engaging passersby in conversation. It’s fun and effective, exploiting old traditions of knitting and crocheting but using unusual contemporary materials.
The bright strips of material are flagging tape, often used to stake out mining claims. I’ve seen bits of it used to mark trails, too. Waterproof, inexpensive and lightweight, Wing-Yee is using it in an ingenious new way. She even lined the roof with shower curtain material before she covered it with a giant crocheted doily. Very clever in this season of unpredictable weather.
I didn’t notice until I looked at Danica’s photo, but the location is noteworthy, too. How often do you see a telephone booth these days? Did the artist set up beside it as part of her statement?