The Historic Joy Kogawa House Society recruited Vancouver yarnbombing queens Leanne Prain and Mandy Moore to take on Joy Kogawa's cherry tree.
Knitters and crocheters made more than 500 blossoms in all shapes, sizes and shades of pink.
Former Kogawa House writer-in-residence Nancy Lee reads aloud while crafters work on garlands during one of the knit-ins organized by Prain and Moore.
Leanne Prain and Mandy Moore are the authors of the book Yarn Bombing: The Art of Knit and Crochet Graffiti.
When the day came to actually yarnbomb the tree, firefighters lent use of their ladder to help decorate Joy Kogawa's tree.
Prain begins attaching the "bark" while the firefighters hang the garlands.
Moore delivers blossom garlands to the firefighters. Every blossom on every garland is one of a kind.
The unique beauty of the finished project originates from the wide variety of blossoms.
The author, Monica Miller, attaches yarn blossoms from the bow of the tree.
Many thanks were in order to the firefighters from Vancouver Fire Hall 22 (Marpole-Oakridge) for their help in executing the highly anticipated yarnbombing.
Joy Kogawa's cherry tree can be best viewed from the alley behind the house.
Organizers say the yarn blossoms will remain up until the first real cherry blossoms begin to bloom.
Part literary activism and part craftiness, Vancouver-born author and poet Joy Kogawa's cherry tree gets yarn bombed
About 50 crafters gathered at 1450 West 64th Avenue in Marpole to complete the three-month long yarnbombing project to cover the cherry tree behind Joy Kogawa's childhood home. Joined by authors, photographers, television crews and supportive friends and family, the day was a huge success.
The cherry tree is a strong symbol in Joy Kogawa's writing, particularly Naomi’s Tree, a picture book about friendship, forgiveness, remembering and love.
Historic Joy Kogawa House
1450 W 64th Ave, Vancouver
Cherry blossom yarnbombing on view through March 2011.
Tree is located in the back alley behind the house.
The Historic Joy Kogawa House Society approached Leanne Prain and Mandy Moore, co-authors of Yarn Bombing: The Art of Knit and Crochet Graffiti, to help organize this project. With the tagline "help writing blossom," the project aimed to raise awareness for the activities of the Historic Joy Kogawa House, including the writer-in-residence program.
Prain and Moore have spoken to the caretaker and an arborist about the effect of plating the cherry tree, which is now diseased and dying. The yarn blossoms will not affect the tree in any way and will be dismantled once the tree begins to bloom real blossoms.
Check out the yarnbombing in person
The cherry blossom yarn bombing is slated to stay up for the month of March.
Read the back story:
Yarn bombing a literary landmark on Vancouver's south side by Monica Miller