2019 Edition

Tejiendo la Calle is a collaborative project. It consists of using “XXL crochet” to create light structures as sunshades, wich are hung througout the streets of Valverde de La Vera (Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain) during the towns culture week and the local festivities held in August. The installation is an expression of the town´s identity as well as an embodiment of the 3/5 intentions and desires of the people who participate in the project. The light structures welcome visitors to the town and help to create a festive atmosphere. They shade people from the sun during the day and show the way to the town´s central square, wich is the main meeting point for people attending the town´s festivities. The pieces are lightweight and waterproof and can be reused year after year. They are mainly made out of repurposed plastic (shopping, packaging), wich are transformed into long strips that can be crocheted. We also use plastic that we acquire with special colors and greater resistance for remarkable pieces. As well as strings (polypropylene clothesline) to hang the parasols of the street balconies. After several uses, we take the damaged and not repairable parasols to recycle. The project is open to anyone who wants to participate, regardless of their level of experience. Participants knit their pieces individually or in groups. Meetings are held once a month in the town square, where participants share their experiences and techniques, experts teach beginners, and people show each other their works in progress. Each artist creates his or her own personal design, which will then form part of the group´s larger work. It is important to recognize the work traditionally done by women. In Tejiendo la Calle, elements linked to the domestic environment are expanded to the public space generating a collective work for the entire community.