Dave Cole’s Knitting Machine
Tuesday, January 16th, 2007Tags: Linkage
The Knitting Machine is just one of artist Dave Cole‘s large scale projects that consist of ambitiously knitting unconventional materials. In this particular piece Cole uses two excavation tractors equipped with 20-foot knitting needles to assemble a giant American flag in time for the 4th of July (2005). This work was part of larger exhibition and artist residence held at Mass Moca, North Adams, Mass. Cole describes the work as “combining the feminized domestic American tradition of knitting with the grandiose gesture of construction”.
Yeah yeah, more gender-commentary stuff I know, but dudes, they’re 20-foot knitting needles! Powered by giant crane things! If men knitted more, I’m fairly sure they would make electric knitting needles, and they would be highly dangerous and cause all sorts of accidents but men would buy them anyway because it’s faster. There would be a special section for knitting power tools in Canadian Tire. (Or wherever you buy power tools in the states. Walmart? I assume Americans buy all their things at Walmart.)
BTW, the knitting needles weren’t the only things up there when it was actually knit. A quick look at this picture indicates they did it English style, with a man in a cherry picker throwing the yarn. Sorta.
Via Neatorama.
Ha ha… I think most Americans buy their power tools at The Home Depot (or other such giant do-it-yourself hardware stores). It’s like Walmart for the handy. (Would you believe there’s even one in midtown Manhattan? But their garden section (understandably) sucks.)
Comment by carrieJanuary 16, 2007 @ 6:36 pm
Wow. That is so cool. I don’t know what Americans do without Canadian Tire either :P. Not to mention – what do they do without Canadian Tire money at Christmastime? I remember my elementary schools always had “bring in your CT money” and they’d have $100s of dollars to buy toys for a toy drive. I was never one of the lucky kids picked for the shopping spree, however
Comment by LizJanuary 16, 2007 @ 10:19 pm
Power tools are usually purchased at Home Depot or Sears. Where the men play…I always loved this photo. Gotta love a guy who can knit you a house.
Comment by CarolJanuary 16, 2007 @ 11:21 pm
The beau has several hundred dollars in Canadian Tire money. I believe he’s planning on buying a bike.
Comment by EveJanuary 17, 2007 @ 8:22 am
And this is certainly “power knitting” in it’s largest dimensions!
Comment by Rhonda the StitchingnutJanuary 17, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
Hey Eve-
Comment by gale (she shoots sheep shots)I worked with Dave Cole for a day a couple of summers ago, when he made the Mass Moca installation. He’s a serious knitter and has some very cool small pieces with knitting as both the subject and a metaphor. I have a bit about them at the end of my post, too, its at http://ezisus.blogspot.com/2005/07/thinking-outsideof-everything.html#links
January 17, 2007 @ 10:13 pm