Cozy and unassuming, PPL’s North Country Section is going to be home to a new interactive art exhibit through April, but you might not know it to look at it.
Expressions and Interpretations of the North Country: Garments of the Past Knit into the Future is the newest installation from local artist and craftsperson, Mona Zillah, who described the work as being rooted in the traditional art of knitting, as including a functional and accessible sustainable capsule wardrobe.
The installation, which comes to PPL through a partnership with Canton’s Traditional Arts in Upstate New York (TAUNY), will “include hand sewn and hand knitted non-gendered/gender-exploring garments; their heritage (Chinese and Scottish) and including the North Country as inspiration and in search of North Country identity,” Mona said.
The installation will include a table and baskets containing a knitted item/items people can frog (un-knit) and a skein to be wound into a ball, plus a clipboard with attached pencil/pen which has a small questionnaire.
“A semi-permanent Frog House at TAUNY and the Hopping Frog, moving around a few libraries, is in place to hear from YOU – voices in our North Country community,” Mona said. “You may relax and ‘frog’ small swatches alone or with a friend. No experiences needed and everyone is welcome!”
Community members are also encouraged to write/draw something and place it in the Frog box.
“Any ‘shares’ will be included in a book during the installation” Mona said. “You may also access and share contributions online via my website (monazillah.com). You may use the prompts or share a poem, story, or remembrance.”
Mona’s website will also have updates on the progress of the piece, as well as information about Mona, and the fibre & fibre shop maps, which she said share local small fibre farms and shops in the North Country. There is also a map for local meet-up groups for knitting/making. Again, anyone is welcome to contribute their group to the community map!
About the artist:
Mona explores form, with a focus on movement vs stagnation and with elements of belonging, through a variety of mediums including art performance, drawing, painting, and sculpture. They have worked for most of their life in some form of art and science, finding both are fundamentally similar in process. Mona is also a knit pattern designer and owner of bunnymuff designs. Find bunnymuff on Ravelry, instagram, and youtube).