Another win for Pittsburgh

June 19, 2013 9:18 AM

Andy Warhol bridge to be "yarn bombed" Maybe some of you saw the post about the Rubber Ducky coming to Pittsburgh. Well, apparently, now Pittsburgh is getting one of their bridges covered in yarn. This is so bizarre. I hope it all happens at the same time. Bath time fun for everyone!
posted by kbennett289 (24 comments total)

I see they are outsourcing this to knitters across the county - just like Warhol did with his art! Totally perfect.

"After the panels are removed, they'll be washed and distributed to homeless shelters, nursing homes and animal shelters."

Cool.
posted by marienbad at 9:26 AM on June 19, 2013 [2 favorites]

Yay!
posted by Capt. Renault at 9:27 AM on June 19, 2013

Without seeing this in person, I wonder how many cries of "photoshop!" there will be.
posted by dobi at 9:34 AM on June 19, 2013

There are some VERY angry crocheters in the comments for that first article.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:42 AM on June 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

There are some VERY angry crocheters in the comments for that first article.

Would you say they were... crotchety?
posted by Going To Maine at 9:58 AM on June 19, 2013 [7 favorites]

There are some VERY angry crocheters in the comments for that first article.

This mistake (labeling crochet as knit) is annoying and common enough that I'd like to see the AP Stylebook cover the difference between the two. Not that hard to fact-check, if you know there's something you need to fact-check.
posted by asperity at 10:08 AM on June 19, 2013 [2 favorites]

item: "Do you think maybe the organizers of this event are getting their Warhols and their Christos mixed-up?"

Yea but we don't have a Christo Bridge and we do have a Warhol Bridge. And it's at least slightly more relevant than if they did it to the Rachel Carson or the Roberto Clemente.
posted by octothorpe at 10:11 AM on June 19, 2013

Honestly, I'm hoping the Duck is here for the Dragon Boat Race or Anything That Floats.
posted by talldean at 10:19 AM on June 19, 2013

Is this where I get to tell you all about our local dinosaur statues, and the time that for the premiere of "Flashdance The Musical", a bunch of local knitters yarn-bombed the dinosaur statues by knitting them legwarmers?

Because I really want you all to see the picture.

Sometimes I really, really love this ridiculous city.
posted by Stacey at 10:20 AM on June 19, 2013 [10 favorites]

Some of the comments are truly priceless. Trust Pittsburgh residents to fight over the possibility of the yarn getting hit by a discarded smoke or the blankets being too dirty for distribution. It is obvious that they were never given crocheted dish cloths as a gift from their babcia (those things are close to indestructible). So many residents failing to embrace the wonder of this city.

Is this where I get to tell you all about our local dinosaur statues, and the time that for the premiere of "Flashdance The Musical", a bunch of local knitters yarn-bombed the dinosaur statues by knitting them legwarmers?

Ack! Heartbroken I missed that!
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 10:42 AM on June 19, 2013

The dinosaurs around the city are full of win; personal favorites are ketchupsaurus and Fred Rodgers as T-rex.
posted by talldean at 11:29 AM on June 19, 2013 [5 favorites]

aw, come on, philly used to be the cool kids
posted by angrycat at 12:10 PM on June 19, 2013

Kechupsaurus! LOL everyone knows that's really just Relishomimus with the tail placed where the neck goes.

Also yay duck!
posted by Mister_A at 12:21 PM on June 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

Fred Rogers T-Rex has been missing for nigh on two weeks now. I'm choosing to believe he's getting refurbished, because he was getting paint-chipped and someone had stuck stickers on him. But I walk by there most days so I am on the lookout for him. If he doesn't come back I am going to be REALLY mad.

I have Pittsburgh dinosaur feelings, apparently.
posted by Stacey at 12:55 PM on June 19, 2013 [4 favorites]

I've been meaning to get back to Pittsburgh, it's been too long.

I love that the city is getting sillier and more fun. I identify with it so much more now that it's relaxed and over all that rustbelt stuff.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:58 PM on June 19, 2013

I guess the city of Pittsburgh voted in favor because they know what happens when you piss off knitters.
posted by Mchelly at 1:19 PM on June 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

Bah. Come up with something new. I mean if this has already happened in Cambridge, Ontario, it's well beyond passé.

Trust me, you don't want to follow Cambridge as a trend setter. That's a mistake nobody needs to make. Or should ever make.
posted by sardonyx at 4:10 PM on June 19, 2013

> " I identify with it so much more now that it's relaxed and over all that rustbelt stuff."

Honest question, asked in good faith: what does it mean to be "over all that rustbelt stuff"? And how is it that Pittsburgh went about actualizing this, you think?

(no trap waiting to be sprung... no "gotcha" anything on-deck. I was just intrigued by your sentence/assertion and want to know more.)
posted by jjjjjjjijjjjjjj at 4:22 PM on June 19, 2013

First the Rubber Ducky, now yarn bombing? Is there any stupid Australian 'art' fad that isn't coming to America?
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 4:45 PM on June 19, 2013

Be prepared for the Skywhale, is all I'm saying.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 5:13 PM on June 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

octothorpe: "
Yea but we don't have a Christo Bridge and we do have a Warhol Bridge. And it's at least slightly more relevant than if they did it to the Rachel Carson or the Roberto Clemente."

Please - 6th, 7th, and 9th Street Bridges. This re-naming of them after people smacks too much of Philly.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:38 PM on June 24, 2013

One day I shall travel from Philly just to visit your delightful numbered bridges. And your duck. And your yarn.
posted by angrycat at 4:03 AM on June 25, 2013

I don't really hear people use the old numbered names for those bridges very often these days, most people use the new names. We even named a conference room at work The Clemente along with other rooms named West End, Hot Metal and Smithfield.
posted by octothorpe at 4:20 AM on June 25, 2013

I have done a comprehensive poll of people in this room, and 100% preferred the old names.

Sample size = 1
posted by Chrysostom at 7:14 AM on June 25, 2013 [1 favorite]