WESTWOOD—Crafty Westwood moms came together last week to “yarn bomb” — with permission — a dozen houses on Third Avenue surrounding Westwood Regional Middle School, drawing smiles into the new school year.
Third Avenue resident Mary Griffin tells Pascack Press, “It has been on my bucket list to yarn-bomb some trees for years now and I finally found a great group of moms who joined my enthusiasm.”
Griffin says she “planted the seed in May” and the moms came together and spent the past four months hosting play times that facilitated hours of free time to crochet.
“When I knocked on neighbors’ doors, everyone who answered said yes to being a part of the display. It was nice to have the project so well received by the neighbors of the school,” Griffin says.
“Yarn bombing” has grown in popularity over the years as a guerrilla art form known for beautifying overlooked outdoor spaces with colorful, textured art that proponents say can’t help but bring smiles and joy to those who come across its bright installations.
Throughout May, volunteers created pieces together at the Westwood Free Public Library on Tuesday nights. All skills and ages were welcomed. Inaugural pieces were welcome to take shape and inner life at the library, church groups, troop meetings, art class, or home. Donated creations were dropped off at the circulation desk from May 1 to June 1.
“I am so inspired by the creativity and talent within our community, and even more so, by the shared desire of so many to spread joy in big and simple ways,” said Heather O’Hara, the larger project’s founder and “joy instigator” at Westwood Arts Hub.
She said earlier, “This summer, we’re excited to celebrate Westwood with a multi-generational communal effort, and together transform the unexpected or overlooked into something soft, colorful and bright. And as visitors come to Westwood for our many summer events and activities, our hope is the joy we spark here can spread to other communities throughout Bergen County.”
We reported on Celebrate Westwood’s “yarn bomb” project on July 3, in “Connected by a summer dream.”
That effort dressed up the intersection of Irvington and Broadway in what organizers called “Westwood’s most joyful public art installation.” An old chain link fence was transformed with bits of pom-pom confetti, handwoven butterflies, textile versions of summer snacks, fuzzy bumble bees, plentiful hearts, and flowers galore.
(Permission to install that project was granted by property owner Richard Ferrentino of Woodcliff Builders LLC.)
The three artists who crocheted for the Third Avenue installation — Mary Griffin, Ayoe Minutella, and Jennifer Gill — have all been regular attendees at the new evening crochet/knit group hosted at Westwood Public Library.
Griffin says her group is not under the same umbrella as O’Hara’s community push, though she was delighted to support it.
Three of their number have boys going into sixth grade in the district; all love crocheting. They say they’ve enjoyed batting around back-to-school ideas with other yarn enthusiasts, and school spirit landed well with all.
Griffin says, “Much of what you can find are in the school colors for Westwood Cardinals, with some other spots that add brightness and whimsy. A fence-lined area on two properties directly across from the school have a variety of hula hoops decorated as mandalas, animals, dream catchers and more. And there are bicycles covered in crochet.”
Griffin says the items went up for display on Aug. 26, with Annick McGregor and Laura Magliocchetti volunteering their keen peepers and nimble fingers.
One highlight of many: A snake by Ayoe Minutella ambles by at 10 feet long.
Griffin says, “The happiness that this project will spread is impossible to measure. Not only will the kids of the school, parents, and teachers enjoy this art, but Third Avenue is a busy thoroughfare and will provide a picturesque moment of joy for all who drive by.”
The display will be up for six weeks. We’re told “Check it out before the group selects a new location in town to transfer some of the works for a more permanent placement.”