Libertyville 'yarn storm' project attracting more interest than expected

A bold idea for a community art project in Libertyville has generated surprising interest as volunteers work steadily to bring a splash of color to the dreary post-holiday landscape.

Libertyville resident and artist Beth McKenna and her friend, Beth Schrag, have seen dozens of people participate in preparations for their "Wrapped in Art" project to adorn a two-block downtown stretch of Milwaukee Avenue with multicolored segments of yarn.

The idea, which local officials enthusiastically supported last fall, was to create a "yarn storm" of color in advance of Fine Arts Month beginning March 1. Exact timing and other details were left open-ended, but a big question was how many stitchers would get on board. The answer is more than expected.

In the past two months, about 120 knitters and crocheters of all ages and abilities have joined "drop-in" gatherings held twice a week. The next session is 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 6, at the David Adler Music & Arts Center, 1700 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Visit www.adlercenter.org/ for details and information on upcoming drop-ins.

Participants have been creating segments about 8 inches square that will be joined in 4-foot lengths to be affixed to trees between Cook Avenue and Lake Street on "Coloring Day" scheduled for Feb. 24.

"We've been very encouraged by the number of people who have come (to the drop-in events)," Schrag said. Participants have included kids, students, church groups, experienced hands and novices.

"It's really evolved and taken on it's own life," McKenna added.

"We've had a surprising number of people who showed up and said, 'We just want to learn.'"

Would-be participants are contacted by word-of-mouth, by email and through "Wrapped in Art - Libertyville" on Facebook.

So far, five "huge" kitchen-type bags have been filled with squares, McKenna said, including several donated by someone whose knitting group dissolved.

"We realized at that point we'll have plenty of pieces to use. The more you have, the greater visual impact you can make," Schrag said.

There are two criteria: The yarn has to be acrylic to stand up to winter weather and as colorful as possible.

"It will be like a rainbow," McKenna said.

"We're encouraging people to work in very bright colors."

The initial thought was to cover other objects, such as benches or light poles, but the project has been narrowed to trees so the presentation is more uniform, according to McKenna.

Logistics of the actual installation will be determined in February.

"Now is the time we're saying, 'Let's make as much stuff as we can,'" Schrag said.