Not everyone had love for the “Knit-Hit” feature during Aetna Arts Week.

There was the question of how artistic integrity could be maintained when art has corporate sponsorship.

There was the question of whether the yarn might be better used to knit sweaters or blankets for infants, the homeless, or others who have the need for warmth. Is the decoration of trees, signs, fences, and statues the best use of resources?

Then, there was the matter of yarn bombing specifically, an act that takes place without consent from officials. The materials distributed by the Greater Hartford Art Council read: “Guerilla knitters storm Greater Hartford!”

Yarn bombing is like graffiti, except with yarn instead of paint. If street artists are granted permission to make this type of art, does it still qualify as street art?

A discovery in Bushnell Park that does not appear to be part of the sanctioned art seems to be a model of how a co-opted art form can be reclaimed:

 

UPDATE 29 May 2013

Someone claiming to be part of the yarn-bombing group says they were not paid. She also took responsibility for creating and displaying the anarchy sign, but not before explaining that they had lots of rules to follow about where the art could be displayed. She also claimed to not know that Aetna was affiliated with this Arts Week.