art vs. graffiti

         What distinguishes art from graffiti?

         I was forced to think of this question a few years ago when I came across http://www.knittaplease.com. Knitta is a group of rebel knitters who come and night and tag trees, benches, poles, street signs, and sometimes buildings around the city with their knitted creations. They call it “knitted graffiti”.

images are taken from http://deputy-dog.com/2008/11/urban-knitting-worlds-most-inoffensive.html

         The difference between graffiti and this knitted graffiti is the knitted graffiti is often seen as a work of art, and people rarely remove it. This is quite a contrast to regular graffiti, which people see as an abomination that must be removed immediately. Both are forms of vandalism, but one is seen as extremely harmful, and the other is seen as a piece of art that must be saved.

         Well what is art? It's a creative expression that carries a message. All graffiti is an expression of the creator’s feelings—both the spray painted version and its knitted alternative. So why do people hesitate to dispose of the knitted pieces?

         Perhaps because most people associate knitted items with comfort and home, and the simple piece of yarn brings a sense of humanness to the impersonal urban cities where they are located.

         I have never thought knitting could be considered art, not until I saw this. Interesting idea. If there’s a knitted graffiti group in Sacramento or Davis, let me know. I’d definitely like to join.