Smithsonian Icon Will Be ‘Yarnbombed’ with 6 Miles of Red Yarn

MEDIA ONLY: Miranda Gale, 202.633.0271, Miranda Gale

ONLINE: asia.si.edu/press
@FreerSackler

August 28, 2014

WHAT: Iconic Smithsonian Castle Gardens and Gate will be ‘yarnbombed’ with 6 miles of red yarn over Labor Day weekend to mark the opening of art installation

WHEN: 6 a.m., Friday, Aug. 29–8 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 2

WHERE: Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Ave. S.W.

One of the Smithsonian’s most iconic and photographed scenes will be blanketed with bright red yarn early in the morning of Friday, Aug. 29. In front of the Smithsonian Castle on Independence Avenue, the entrance gates to the Enid A. Haupt Garden and the lightpoles, benches and guide ropes leading to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery will be “yarnbombed,” or swathed under layers and webs of yarn, to promote the new Sackler exhibition, “Perspectives: Chiharu Shiota.”

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Using more than 6 miles of the same fire-proofed yarn used in the Gallery’s art installation, more than 120 volunteers and knitting enthusiasts from around the Smithsonian and the Washington region contributed to the project. The “yarnbomb” will be installed during the evening of Aug. 28, remaining in place until the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 2, weather permitting.

“Perspectives: Chiharu Shiota,” which opens Aug. 30, is a room-filling installation created with more than 350 shoes collected by the artist, along with handwritten notes from the donors, all wrapped and linked with web-like strings of red yarn. A Japanese performance artist, Shiota is known for her emotionally charged monumental installations with everyday objects that evoke memory, loss and anxiety. She was recently selected as Japan’s representative at the prestigious 2015 Venice Biennale.

The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and Freer Gallery of Art together comprise the Smithsonian’s museums of Asian art. The “Perspectives” series features the best contemporary artists from Asia.

To arrange filming, photography and interviews, contact Press Asia or 202-633-0271.

Editors: hi-res images and b-roll will be available by Friday, Aug. 29, at 6 a.m.; email Press Asia.

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