If you’re looking to fill up your gas tank, you’ve come to the wrong station, as the most you will get from these pumps are a few yards of yarn. Unlike anything I’ve ever seen, this once abandoned gas station in Dewitt, NY has been completely blanketed with colorful fiber panels from around the globe to make a statement about the world’s dependency on oil.
Artist, Jennifer Marsh, a third year Master of Fine Art student from Syracuse University, was behind the project known as the International Fiber Collaborative. For the past year, Marsh has made the project known across the world. Participants from 15 countries and 29 states created fiber panels to cover the gas station’s 5,000 square foot area. On April 12 the station was transformed with a reception to celebrate held on May 3.
As I approached the reception, the soft jazz sounds performed by Hannah Richardson and Phil Flanigan combined with the smoky aroma from Conella’s BBQ grills gave the sense I was in the backyard of a thoroughly enjoyable family picnic. The casual group of guests ranged from children to grandparents, all circling around to view the crocheted, knitted, stitched, patched, photographed, silk screened and collaged panels.
The artists were requested to create something to express their countries use of oil. Open to interpretation, the 3-foot squares were quite contrasting from one to the next. People creatively crocheted shopping bags to display the dependency we have on petroleum-based products beyond that used for our cars. Other materials crocheted included VHS tapes, plastic sleeves from ink cartridges and labels from soda bottles.
While the tentative date to disassemble the gas station cover is this summer, the number of contributors will determine the future of the installation. If enough people continue to create panels, this has potential to cover more abandoned gas stations across the world. Whether you’re an amateur or professional artist, if you have interest in creating a panel please visit the International Fiber Collaborative website at http://www.internationalfibercollaborative.com/ for more information.
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