Mandy and I will be giving a brief reading from the Yarn Bombing book at the W2 Real tomorrow night at the Real Vancouver Writers Series

The W2 is what Vancouver has needed for the last decade – an experimental space that houses writers, independent journalists, artists and free thought. Props to Sean Cranbury for putting together such an excellent reading series – I was astounded by the talent at last week’s show.

Here are the details:
Date: Wednesday February 24th
Location: W2 Culture + Media House 112 West Hastings Street across from the Woodwards Building.

Doors open at 6:30
First Reader 710ish
Hosted by Sean Cranbury & Hal Wake

Program:
Opening Remarks: Sean Cranbury

Introducing Honoured Special Guest Michael Nichol Yahgulanaas who will showcase a video/interactive discussion about his work.

From there we will go to a streamlined line-up of 5-7 minute readings from our writers including two breaks. Like this:

Rhonda Waterfall
Weldon Hunter
kc dyer

(Break)

Steven Galloway
Leilah Nadir
Alex Leslie
Caroline Adderson

(Break)

Leanne Prain & Mandy Moore aka The Yarn Bombers
McKinley M Hellenes
Timothy Taylor
Brad Cran

Here’s a video about the series: http://realvancouverwriters.com/2010/02/19/cool-video-about-w2-real-vancouver-writers-series/

Plus, there will be prizes, a cash bar, and great art and photography on the walls.

Mandy and I will be signing books at the Vancouver Museum this coming thursday, January 21st. Come see Yarn Bombing contributor Knit Girl give a talk on craftivism as well as many other crafty-related events:

A Night of Social Crafting

Come celebrate the creativity and community of the growing DIY craft, art and design movement in Vancouver.

Generously sponsored by OPUS and Blim, there’ll be materials and workshops in a range of art and craft media from paper to yarn. Workshops (listed below) will begin at 8pm. There will also a mini Got Craft market, along with music, snacks and local brews.

Activities are geared so that everyone can participate – from the craft newbie to seasoned creators.

Blim: button-making and screen printing workshops

Knitgirl: Knitting and Craftivism

Kirsti Wakelin: drawing/ exquisite corpse.

If you’re super-proud of what you make at DIY@MOV, MOV is providing exhibit space so that your creation can be on public display in a museum. Think of the bragging rights!

$15 – Tickets available online or at the door.
MOV Members Free

Great fun was had at Word on the Street last weekend – even while  I was being grilled by Nardwuar the Human Serviette about the Halifax Explosion (not the band, the actual explosion).

It was a thrill to have a whole day dedicated to readers and writing and books and all things literary. One can only hope that the impending provincial arts cuts will be reversed. I can’t imagine Vancouver without events like WOTS. Let your Member of Parliament know that arts matter.

Photo by Steve Mah. All rights reserved.

Thanks to everyone who came out and helped us celebrate the launch of the Yarn Bombing book. It was a fun night – the only thing that would have made it better was if all of those who had contributed to the book (fondly known as our ‘international crew’)  could have been in the room with us.

Many talented folks contributed patterns to the book, including:

Hanging Shoes (Cover image) – KnitGirl

Monster Feet – Chelsea Gunn

Chainlink Weave – Mike Richardson

“I Wasn’t Here” Embroidered Tag – Masquerade

Multimedia Appreciation Tag – Aliza Sollins

Knitting Kninja Threads – Debora Oese-Lloyd

Knitted Tulip and Mushroom – Knitted Landscape

Prickly Pear Prosthetic –Stefanie Japel

Mutha Earth – Lee Juvan

Treesweater – Erika Barcott

Bolo Balls – Debora Oese-Lloyd

Elf Stockings – Danielle Lowry

Knitted Poster Frame – Kendra Biddle

Crochet Scallop Tags – Stephanie Lau

We were also fortunate enough to have many knit and crochet graffiti artists contribute in the way of interviews. The book features conversations with:

Masquerade

Incogknito

Art Yarn

JafaGirls

Knitted Landscape

Ladies Fancywork Society

The Micro-Fiber Militia

Stickkontakt

Magda Sayeg (Knitta)

Knit Sea

There were  many photographers and artists who provided photographs for the book. It took the efforts of an entire international guerilla fiber community to create Yarn Bombing! We’re so happy with the end result and we hope that you are too.

If you’d like to catch a little of the launch, our publisher has put up a video on YouTube. Mandy and I will also be talking about Yarn Bombing this Sunday at the Word on the Street Festival at 1pm.