Study in Red, Merill Comeau
April 15, 2013. The Nave Gallery Annex (Somerville, MA) is covered in yarn from the inside out. Building upon last year’s successful Perry Park yarnstorm, participants in The Knit Art house in Crochetville have gone yarn-wild, knitting, crocheting and glue gunning their way to transforming the everyday ordinary into the extraordinary in this apartment-style installation.
This slightly surreal experience begins with knitted and crocheted flowers on the hedges on the Annex lawn. Bright and cheery, the flowers inspire smiles from those walking past and invite the community to add their own crafted flowers with the hopes that warmth and sunshine will come with collective flower power.
The outside theme continues inside with a tree installation of yarn and knitted patches. Walking through the hall of the Annex, one wonders what comes next. A psychedelic bathroom continues the flower power theme while a red and black living room promises the ultimate in sophistication. A dining room table beckons with a buffet of sumptuous desserts, while color emanates from a rock-themed teen room guarded by an adorable army of tiny animals with sweaters. And not to be ignored—a pantry with canned goods that look too good to eat.
But of course, what is an “art house” without art? Intermingled with yarn-covered objects are spectacular pieces of visual art ranging from black and white photos of rock legends taken by photographer Charles Daniels to a wall-sized installation from well-known fiber artist Merill Comeau.
The art anchors the show as a gallery space while the yarnstorming keeps to the spirit of the exhibition. In its early years, The Nave Gallery Annex was a rooming house, welcoming strangers from near and far and providing affordable shelter for those in need of warmth and community. The Knit Art House in Crochetville is an attempt to recreate this home space. More than 30 artists and yarnstormers participate in the show.
The exhibition is also part of The Wrap Around Project, the Nave’s yearlong campaign to support and promote the work of the Somerville Homeless Coalition (SHC). The show invites attendees to “fill its pantry” with canned goods and toiletries that will be donated to SHC’s Project Soup.
An opening reception will take place Wednesday, April 17, 2013, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm.
Nave Gallery Annex, 53 Chester Ave, Somerville, MA 02144
Exhibition Dates and Hours: April 13-May 5, 2013, Wed-Fri 6-8, Sat 2-8, Sun 2-6. Extended hours are available for Somerville Open Studios. Visit www.navegallery.org for full details.
