Guerrillas in our midst
Armed with needles and plenty of wool, guerrilla knitters are knitting up a storm as part of the Historic Houses Trust’s Knitted Interventions at Elizabeth Bay House.
Following a successful ‘knit-over’ of Vaucluse House in 2010, North Bondi resident and manager, Gillian Redman-Lloyd, is organising this year’s exhibition to pay tribute to the famous family who once lived in this grand Sydney house.
“This time we are trying to link it more with the stories attached to Elizabeth Bay House and Alexander Macleay, the man who built it,” says Redman-Lloyd.
The volunteer knitters are split into project teams, each responsible for bringing to life the different aspects of Macleay’s life - as a public figure, his entomology work and intimate family relationships.
The library of Elizabeth Bay House, where Macleay once met with Charles Darwin, will be transformed into a replica insect laboratory featuring a knitted showcase of what was then the biggest insect collection in the southern hemisphere, perhaps even the world.
Redman-Lloyd says the knitters, who participated in the guerrilla knitting of Vaucluse House last year, are inspired by the concept of this exhibition which is part of Sydney Art Month.
“It’s incredible. They’re saying to each other ‘this time we are stepping it up a notch’,” she says.
“We’ve been blown away with the ideas they have come up with and the skill it takes to knit these things in great detail,” she says. “One woman decided she’s going to knit a giant praying mantis!”
Now a worldwide movement, Redman-Lloyd conceived the idea to ‘knit-out’ the stories of Sydney’s historic houses after seeing a guerrilla knitting display on light-poles in Taylor Square.
“It’s a less destructive form of street-art because it’s easy to install and remove,” she says. “It’s just been popping up everywhere; one of our Elizabeth Bay House volunteers is guerrilla knitting the bench outside her apartment block…she’s out there and she is proud,” chuckles Redman-Lloyd.
Project Lead of the Breakfast Room Intervention, Diana Loges says she got involved with the exhibition because she liked the idea of telling stories through knitted installations.
“The breakfast room was really important; it’s where the Macleay family gathered informally to share morning devotions and prayers,” says Loges.
“We’re doing a work that’s based around that idea of family devotion by knitting-out each of the chairs to represent a member of the family and invoke their unique character in the house through the materials,” she says.
Knitted Interventions opens March 17 at Elizabeth Bay House. More information at www.hht.com.au or call 8239 2288. Experienced knitters wishing to be involved can join the project by calling 9388 7928 to book. Sessions cost $5 and include afternoon tea.
