Sep 13, 2011
More Girdafi photos by Jill
My sister Jill joined me on Sunday for the 9/11 Girdafi Memorial installation and took some great photos.
See more of her pictures on Jill's flickr page.
Sep 11, 2011
9/11 Girdafi Memorial
Today is a important day to remember. Exactly 10 years ago thousands of people died because of an act of terrorism. Mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, family members, friends, acquaintances, strangers, human-beings like you and me. Even a decade later this tragedy is still as horrible as incomprehensible.
That's why I had to put up this little knitted memorial:
The Girdafi tag is installed on a street light in front of the Wiener Stadthalle, the place I spent my evening exactly 10 years ago.
That's why I had to put up this little knitted memorial:
The Girdafi tag is installed on a street light in front of the Wiener Stadthalle, the place I spent my evening exactly 10 years ago.
 | |
| "I was here today exactly 10 years ago! Depeche Mode played a concert but the crowd was sadly muted. Everbody was thinking about 2 airplanes and the World Trade Center. Do you still remember where you were? In silent memory of the victims of terrorism: 21.12.1988 Lockerbie 11.09.2001 New York 11.03.2004 Madrid 07.07.2005 London 22.07.2011 Oslo" |
Sep 10, 2011
Girdafi Announcement: 9/11 memorial in Vienna
I just finished another Girdafi. Right in time for the 9/11 commemoration day.
I will install it tomorrow at exactly the place where I happened to be 10 years ago:
I will install it tomorrow at exactly the place where I happened to be 10 years ago:
Sep 1, 2011
Girdafi has its own Tumblr!
In order to share news links concerning Libya more actively I started a new tumblr. Visit and follow girdafi.tumblr.com if you like!
Aug 27, 2011
K.I.Y. - Knit it Yourself!
Dear craftivists, yarnbombers, hobby-knitters and all those who want to make a difference,
hereby Girdafi is yours and everyone's.
Feel free to save the PDF or print the pattern.
Feel encouraged to share it with your friends and family.
Feel wholeheartedly invited to give it a chance and knit it.
If you use this pattern, I'd be very glad to hear or see your Girdafi-story!
Where did you install it? How did it go? Or did you find a whole new use for this little piece of knitting? Anyway, it would be more than wonderful if I could post some Girdafi experiences apart from mine.
Links to the pattern on...
Aug 23, 2011
Some more links
As events come thick and fast in Libya, I'd like to start a list of interesting news links here. I'm pretty sure there will be a lot to add within the next few days. Also please, feel very welcome to recommend relevant articles, videos, radio features and news!
- a very detailed Wikipedia article summarizing the Libyan civil war
- "Unser lieber Gaddafi" by Joseph Gepp (Der Falter)
- a "Report"-feature about the Austrian Libyan friendship
- "Wien - Tripolis: Die zwei Gesichter des Saif Gaddafi" (Die Presse)
- "Gaddafis Sohn mit den vielen Gesichtern" (Der Standard)
- Martin Blumenau's comment on Saif al-Islam's Austrian neighbours
- FM4 airs a Reality Check about the situation in Libya today (after it aired the show is available as a podcast)
- Aljazeera's focus on Lybia
- opinion (Der Standard) with some facts how the Lybian-Austrian freindship began
- blog post about the Gaddafi-Kreisky-connection
- "Libya: A state of terror" - Aljazeera's moving feature about Gaddafi's violent regime and the dissident generation
Aug 22, 2011
Ending a blood-soaked chapter means beginning a new and hopefully better one!
There's a lot of news from Libya these days. After more than 40 years Gaddafi's cruel regime finally comes to an end. It's a very happy moment which far too many people had to suffer or even die for. Half a year of civil war including all possible atrocities like massacres, executions, torture, rapes and the use as human shields has gone by until the rebels' imperturbable patience finally paid off. Only a few hours to go until a new age in Libyan history starts... Congratulations!
Still I'd like to remember that there still is a hell lot to do! Not only for the Libyans who have to find a new and this time hopefully fair way to run their country, but also each single one of us has to keep at it. It's our duty in this information society we live in to be attentious and to try to learn out of this blood-soaked history.
It doesn't matter if it happened in a country far away from your home. Often it still reaches your neighbourhood without you really noticing. Austria, my oh so often willingly acting the innocent home, is the best example. If you understand German, I highly recommend you to read the article "Unser lieber Gaddafi" by Joseph Gepp (from the newspaper Der Falter) or watch this short "Report"-feature about the Austrian Libyan friendship on Youtube.
For example: The very Saif al-Islam Gaddafi who is accused of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court studied and lived in Vienna. He had a villa (where a prostitute mysteriously found her death) in a very nice neighbourhood. He had a favourite bar where he used to hang out. Sometimes with Jörg Haider or other more or less dubious people. I know these places, they are in my city. Many people don't know these stories. And those who do often prefer to stay silent about it because the facts are unpleasant. Both is wrong - and this is exactly why there still is a lot of Girdafi-work to do!
Coming up:
I'm looking forward to information-tags telling you a fact about the place it is installed. And I'm looking forward to sharing the pattern and trying to make it easy for you and others who don't want to look away anymore to participate in the Girdafi-project. Knit a Girdafi-tag yourself and install it in front of a Libyan embassy or some place with a connection to the Gaddafi-regime! Let's show everyone that we know and care about what has happened!
So please drop by soon again on this blog and download the pattern and knitting instructions which I hopefully will have uploaded by the end of the week. And until then, keep an eye open for Gaddafi! ;)
Still I'd like to remember that there still is a hell lot to do! Not only for the Libyans who have to find a new and this time hopefully fair way to run their country, but also each single one of us has to keep at it. It's our duty in this information society we live in to be attentious and to try to learn out of this blood-soaked history.
It doesn't matter if it happened in a country far away from your home. Often it still reaches your neighbourhood without you really noticing. Austria, my oh so often willingly acting the innocent home, is the best example. If you understand German, I highly recommend you to read the article "Unser lieber Gaddafi" by Joseph Gepp (from the newspaper Der Falter) or watch this short "Report"-feature about the Austrian Libyan friendship on Youtube.
For example: The very Saif al-Islam Gaddafi who is accused of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court studied and lived in Vienna. He had a villa (where a prostitute mysteriously found her death) in a very nice neighbourhood. He had a favourite bar where he used to hang out. Sometimes with Jörg Haider or other more or less dubious people. I know these places, they are in my city. Many people don't know these stories. And those who do often prefer to stay silent about it because the facts are unpleasant. Both is wrong - and this is exactly why there still is a lot of Girdafi-work to do!
Coming up:
I'm looking forward to information-tags telling you a fact about the place it is installed. And I'm looking forward to sharing the pattern and trying to make it easy for you and others who don't want to look away anymore to participate in the Girdafi-project. Knit a Girdafi-tag yourself and install it in front of a Libyan embassy or some place with a connection to the Gaddafi-regime! Let's show everyone that we know and care about what has happened!
So please drop by soon again on this blog and download the pattern and knitting instructions which I hopefully will have uploaded by the end of the week. And until then, keep an eye open for Gaddafi! ;)
Aug 11, 2011
Girdafi mentioned in German radioshow
My Berlin friend Maren a.k.a. @strickgraffiti was interviewed by Deutschlandfunk about yarnbombing. She did a very good job, very interesting to listen to her perspectives on "our" kind of art.
During the interview also the Girdafi project was mentioned, which I feel extremely flattered about. "Mentioning" is actually an understatement. Maren and the host discussed it and if its efficiency as a way of protest. Wow!! This was very good input. Thanks!
After the show was over, Maren blogged about it and went to install another great yarnbomb of course. Find more details about her wonderful wool fountain on the Berlin Strickeria.
If you want to listen it (in German, sorry to my non-German visitors), the radio show aired yesterday but it's also available online. Just click here or here!
And I found this blog post by Pfefferminza about the radio show summing it up very well.
During the interview also the Girdafi project was mentioned, which I feel extremely flattered about. "Mentioning" is actually an understatement. Maren and the host discussed it and if its efficiency as a way of protest. Wow!! This was very good input. Thanks!
 |
| photo by Maren Heltsche |
After the show was over, Maren blogged about it and went to install another great yarnbomb of course. Find more details about her wonderful wool fountain on the Berlin Strickeria.
If you want to listen it (in German, sorry to my non-German visitors), the radio show aired yesterday but it's also available online. Just click here or here!
And I found this blog post by Pfefferminza about the radio show summing it up very well.
This Girdafi is not only staying, it's growing!
 |
| Photo by Jill Meißner. Thanks! Please click to enlarge or go to Jill's flickr to see the whole beauty. |
Aug 2, 2011
Girdafi went Scandinavia: Stockholm and Copenhagen tagged!
The last two weeks I was on a very pretty road trip up North to Denmark and Sweden: Northern Jutland, Skagen, Gothenburg, Stockholm, the archipelago, Öland, Copenhagen, Bon Bon Land ... Sooo much to see and sooo little time! I didn't even manage to pay a quick visit to the Little Mermaid. But I had my priorities. Namely some more Girdafi action. Of course I had to seize my summer vacation and visit two more Libyan embassies in European capitals!
Stockholm, July 26th
To be honest, I was a bit nervous about this tagging because some friends told me that graffiti is strictly illegal in Sweden and that the punishments are ridiculously hard. But as I don't cause any damage with my pieces, I took courage and did it anyway, even in the middle of the day - and I was rewarded with smiles and good smalltalk by interested passersby. Phew!
The embassy itself looked quite abandoned. No flag and the sign was removed. I wouldn't have been able to tell if I was at the right adress, if the new Libyan flag hadn't been painted on the doors. Protest by graffiti!! Finally I wasn't the first one there expressing my protest in that way. Yay!
Copenhagen, July 31st
The embassy in Copenhagen looked far more peaceful. Just like another little villa in an idyllic neighbourhood. A gardener was busy mowing the lawn. Perfect length of course. But he didn't say a word to me when I installed the Girdafi just few centimeters away from the fence. I'm not joking! It's really close this time! By far the closest tag to an embassy that I ever did. I wonder how long it will stay...
At this point also a big thank you to my Mum who joined me to the embassy and in fact knitted the Girdafi piece for Denmark. And of course to Gerhard who supports me so much and always takes photos while I'm installing. Thanks guys!
Stockholm, July 26th
To be honest, I was a bit nervous about this tagging because some friends told me that graffiti is strictly illegal in Sweden and that the punishments are ridiculously hard. But as I don't cause any damage with my pieces, I took courage and did it anyway, even in the middle of the day - and I was rewarded with smiles and good smalltalk by interested passersby. Phew!
The embassy itself looked quite abandoned. No flag and the sign was removed. I wouldn't have been able to tell if I was at the right adress, if the new Libyan flag hadn't been painted on the doors. Protest by graffiti!! Finally I wasn't the first one there expressing my protest in that way. Yay!
Copenhagen, July 31st
The embassy in Copenhagen looked far more peaceful. Just like another little villa in an idyllic neighbourhood. A gardener was busy mowing the lawn. Perfect length of course. But he didn't say a word to me when I installed the Girdafi just few centimeters away from the fence. I'm not joking! It's really close this time! By far the closest tag to an embassy that I ever did. I wonder how long it will stay...
At this point also a big thank you to my Mum who joined me to the embassy and in fact knitted the Girdafi piece for Denmark. And of course to Gerhard who supports me so much and always takes photos while I'm installing. Thanks guys!
Jul 13, 2011
After-Workshop Video from Déjà Vu
OK folks, one last workshop related thing:
eSel made this video about our day at Déjà Vu. The day's topic was "loops" - so this is what club d'hommage, Rudi Salomon and I are basically talking about (in German - sorry to my dear English talking visitors!).
Gosh, I love it!!! The Hommage people are way to smart and if you've seen Mr. Salomon stepdancing you know he's just as diligent as he sounds in this video. Well, and me? I'm just the good old nerd who sees the repetitive algorithm in knitting and crocheting :D
OK, and now enough from looping and repititions. The next post will be Girdafi-focussed again! I promise! ;)
eSel made this video about our day at Déjà Vu. The day's topic was "loops" - so this is what club d'hommage, Rudi Salomon and I are basically talking about (in German - sorry to my dear English talking visitors!).
Gosh, I love it!!! The Hommage people are way to smart and if you've seen Mr. Salomon stepdancing you know he's just as diligent as he sounds in this video. Well, and me? I'm just the good old nerd who sees the repetitive algorithm in knitting and crocheting :D
OK, and now enough from looping and repititions. The next post will be Girdafi-focussed again! I promise! ;)
Jul 9, 2011
A Knitastic Day at the Déjà Vu Festival
OMG! The Urban Knitting Workshop in Linz was so much fun!!!
Even though the festival scheduled us until 4 pm, we kept on knitting until the last little bit of (street) light at 10 pm. And I have to say our yarnbomb creations were definately worth the effort. Have a look yourself!
It was a great pleasure to meet so many nice people in Linz. A big enchantée to Gerda and the ladies of Stitch and Bitch Linz at this point! :) I'm still amazed by all the interest and enthusiasm, mostly even on spur of the moment. Many people dropped by incidentally, saw us working on our yarnbombs, joined in and stayed. We made even a whole school class stay, which I think to be really impressing considering their teacher asked them wether they should stay and knit or go and have some ice cream. And they really chose the workshop, yay!
Oh! And most important of all, my personal dream came true: I had kids, young adults and old people sit and knit at the same table AND it was just fun! But next time I want more guys to try i, OK? :)
Want to see and read more? Have a look at:
 |
| Photo by eSeL & Biber |
It was a great pleasure to meet so many nice people in Linz. A big enchantée to Gerda and the ladies of Stitch and Bitch Linz at this point! :) I'm still amazed by all the interest and enthusiasm, mostly even on spur of the moment. Many people dropped by incidentally, saw us working on our yarnbombs, joined in and stayed. We made even a whole school class stay, which I think to be really impressing considering their teacher asked them wether they should stay and knit or go and have some ice cream. And they really chose the workshop, yay!
Oh! And most important of all, my personal dream came true: I had kids, young adults and old people sit and knit at the same table AND it was just fun! But next time I want more guys to try i, OK? :)
Want to see and read more? Have a look at:
- Gerda's blog
- the Déjà Vu website
- my photos on flickr
Jul 5, 2011
Workshop
Again a bit Girdafi-offtopic but still worth mentioning here: I'm running my very first urban knitting workshop tomorrow! It takes place at the Déjà Vu festival in the middle of a roundabout in Linz, Upper Austria. Very exciting!
So if you happen to be close by the Mühlkreisautobahn and have time between 10 am and 4 pm, feel more than welcome to drop by. I've organized huge amounts of wool, yarn and all kinds of crazy glittery fun effect twine and there is lots of grey ferroconcrete in this roundabout to yarnbomb and prettify ;)
Oh, and if you want, you can also knit your own Girdafi of course. Sure thing I'll bring along the pattern.
Find more detailed info about the workshop and the festival schedule on www.dejavu-linz.at! But the most important thing is probably that there will be a very cool party with club d'hommage after the workshop ;)
Hope to see you tomorrow right there:
So if you happen to be close by the Mühlkreisautobahn and have time between 10 am and 4 pm, feel more than welcome to drop by. I've organized huge amounts of wool, yarn and all kinds of crazy glittery fun effect twine and there is lots of grey ferroconcrete in this roundabout to yarnbomb and prettify ;)
Oh, and if you want, you can also knit your own Girdafi of course. Sure thing I'll bring along the pattern.
 |
| Teasing for the workshop. Photo by Gerhard Hütter. |
Find more detailed info about the workshop and the festival schedule on www.dejavu-linz.at! But the most important thing is probably that there will be a very cool party with club d'hommage after the workshop ;)
Hope to see you tomorrow right there:
 |
| So much to yarnstorm!! Photo by Deja Vu. |
Jun 16, 2011
Girdafi went TRANSATLANTIC!
My sister is currently on a roadtip in the USA and mailed me these two photos from Florida:
She installed a mini-Girdafi that I made the evening before her journey.
OMG, in freaking Miami Downtown!!
Exactly here:
Wow! I'm so excited! Not only that it's the first Girdafi outside of Europe, it's also the first one where I, the creator, wasn't even around while its installation. This is a very exciting point of the project I think. Now there isn't a single person in the world who has attended or seen all taggings in real life. The message is about to become independent from the head and hands that formed it - and I will support this development with my next step: Turning the Girdafi pattern open-source, so every knitter in the world can recreate it and make the message even stronger!
She installed a mini-Girdafi that I made the evening before her journey.
OMG, in freaking Miami Downtown!!
Exactly here:
Wow! I'm so excited! Not only that it's the first Girdafi outside of Europe, it's also the first one where I, the creator, wasn't even around while its installation. This is a very exciting point of the project I think. Now there isn't a single person in the world who has attended or seen all taggings in real life. The message is about to become independent from the head and hands that formed it - and I will support this development with my next step: Turning the Girdafi pattern open-source, so every knitter in the world can recreate it and make the message even stronger!
Jun 11, 2011
International Yarn Bombing Day
This is a bit Girdafi off-topic but June 11th is a big day for knitters and yarn bombers all over the world: International Yarn Bombing Day. YAY!
A huge numbre of gorgeous projects by awesome fibre artists will be installed. I already saw a couple nice pieces:
If you're in Vienna and want to visit the "Freigeist", it's located on the basketball court's fence on Gaudenzdorfer Gürtel crossing Schönbrunner Straße.
A huge numbre of gorgeous projects by awesome fibre artists will be installed. I already saw a couple nice pieces:
- a bus stop bench cozy by the Purl Gurls
- ShadowStitch's giraffe project and Yarnstory
- Australian Twilight Taggers' parking meter re-bomb
- Early morning yarn bombing in Stockholm (I just love the cat tail!!)
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| I got great help by my dear friends Carla and Heimo. Thank you soooooo much, guys! |
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| Yup, I'm proud! |
Jun 5, 2011
Gaddafi's Revenge: Tenosynovitis
After 3 months of consistent knitting I'm forced to take a break. My hand hurts of tenosynovitis. Probably some voodoo revenge act by Gaddafi. But I won't give up! As soon as my hand is fine again, I'll continue the Girdafi knitting. This summer will be full of crazy tagging!!
But keep visiting the blog in the meantime! I'll work out some free patterns for you to use to knit your own Girdafis and install them for the big mission wherever you are.
Talk to you soon!
//Janis
But keep visiting the blog in the meantime! I'll work out some free patterns for you to use to knit your own Girdafis and install them for the big mission wherever you are.
Talk to you soon!
//Janis
May 14, 2011
Libyan embassy in Berlin: TAGGED!
The third Girdafi-installation at a Libyan embassy went well.
I found a perfect tree a couple of meters in front of the building. The embassy itself was guarded by two policemen, friendly guys who came over to ask some questions but actually seemed to like the urban knitting thing.
I returned to the spot 23 hours later to check if the Girdafi was still there - and it was! :)
And one more thing: A great thank you to my new friend Strickgraffit!!! She's very good company, an awesome yarnbombing assistant and took good photos, as you can see here below:
See all the photos by Strickgraffiti on flickr!
I found a perfect tree a couple of meters in front of the building. The embassy itself was guarded by two policemen, friendly guys who came over to ask some questions but actually seemed to like the urban knitting thing.
I returned to the spot 23 hours later to check if the Girdafi was still there - and it was! :)
 |
| Not only the policemen, even the ants were very interested in the Girdafi. |
And one more thing: A great thank you to my new friend Strickgraffit!!! She's very good company, an awesome yarnbombing assistant and took good photos, as you can see here below:
See all the photos by Strickgraffiti on flickr!
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