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The Knitting Map
Project Partner:
half/angel
Contact:
www.knitting.ie/www.halfangel.ie
Individual Projects
Date: Year long
Venue: St. Luke’s Hall
Project Description:
More than 2000 knitters participated in the Knitting Map, a year-long fabric art and technology project. Created over the 2005 calendar year, the Knitting Map combined twenty-first century digital technologies with the centuries-old traditions of hand-knitting and spinning.
Through the use of sophisticated technology, the movement of people and cars in the city and weather patterns throughout the year were translated into a knitting pattern: hefty cabling during rush hour, stocking stitch on Sunday mornings, bobbles of blackberry stitches for gatherings of Cork people. During 2005, over 2298 people participated in knitting the pattern, working in relay at St. Luke’s Hall in Cork. Each day they downloaded the patterns from digital screens, knitting the stitches and colours created by the previous day’s data. The result was an abstract piece of fabric art reflecting the life of the city of Cork in 2005.
President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, visited the project in November 2005.
In 2004 half/angel held a comprehensive series of events and workshops, introducing the project to the general public in venues in and around Cork city.
HAT
Date: 6 November 2005
Venue: Everyman Palace Theatre
HAT was four new stories about wool and knitting written and performed by poet and BBC Radio 3 presenter Ian McMillan with music composed and performed by Billy Jenkins. Featuring Andy Diagram (ex James) on cornet, loops and samples and Angie Harrison (ex Hallé orchestra) on viola and knitting needles. This was the only chance to see this unique performance in Ireland. Conceived and produced by Simon Thackray. Tickets included a free ball of wool, needles and HAT pattern. A free knitting class led by half/angel and Sirdar knitters was held before the performance.
President of Ireland Mary McAleese (centre) visiting the Knitting Map.
Credit: Michael McSweeney, Provision
The Knitting Map
