Jenny Hill with the first of six trees to be "yarn bombed" in the CBD. Photo / John Stone
So-called "yarn bombing" is just the first in a series of colour explosions to take place across Whangarei's central business district, courtesy of a new urban art movement.
The bright colours and wiggly lines may carry unpleasant political undertones for Hundertwasser Art Centre non-believers, but Colour Our City project co-ordinator
Jenny Hill said the art movement was separate from the project, though it complemented it.
"They run alongside each other," Ms Hill said. "When people come to see the Hundertwasser Arts Centre they will be blown away. There will be the best contemporary Maori art and millions of dollars of Hundertwasser art. But we want to enrich that experience and showcase our own artists and own creative talent."
The project's current focus was the "yarn bombing" of six trees along Whangarei's James St, the first of which was installed this week. A team of 15 local knitters and crochet artists were working on the wrappings, with one tree-art to be rolled out each fortnight.
"The theme is gardens and the first one is a native garden," Ms Hill said. "
