Artful Knitting

Lisa's Suspended Sweater/Skirt Torsos

If you're a member of the knitting community in Los Angeles, you're sure to know about Lisa Anne Auerbach's work. Many of Lisa's knitted art pieces have been displayed in exhibitions throughout the world; her work has been documented in books and more! We attended the opening of "Nine Lives: Visionary Artists from L.A." at the Hammer Museum in Westwood on Saturday night to see Lisa's current exhibit. Wow! What a scene. It was so crowded that we had to park six levels down at the Hammer. We were familiar with a few of the artists: Lisa, Jeffrey Vallance and Llyn Foulkes. The exhibition took over most of the top floor of the Museum. There was a booming party goin' on in the courtyard. Almost every person interested in the L.A. art world was there.

From the exhibition catalog: Lisa Anne Auerbach’s artistic practice is multi-faceted -- she is a writer, a passionate advocate of bicycling, a knitter, a photographer, and a political activist. Auerbach has co-opted the traditional female craft of knitting and transformed it into a tool for wry, pointed political messages. Her contribution to the exhibition includes sweaters with hand-knit political jokes and riddles, as well as ‘cover girl’ self-portrait photographs featuring the artist in deadpan poses revealing the artist’s sly sense of humor.

Lisa and Ellen

I follow Lisa's blog all the time, so I know the stories behind most of her sweater/skirt creations. I found myself explaining some of the pieces to her admirers as we wandered through the exhibit of torsos hanging from the ceiling.

Artist, Jeffrey Vallance and his Wall of Tikis

I definitely want to return to the Hammer to view this show again, without the throngs of people crowding into the exhibition space. OK...everyone...this would make an excellent field trip destination and performance knit-in-public event! Let's go!