‘Square cloud’ or shade sail?
A shade sail made from twine will have a short but memorable time as a feature at Hamilton Lake.
The sail’s material means it will only have a limited life-span but it won’t go to waste, it’ll be turned into compost later on.
The fleeting installation makes the work by Alison Gray and friends all the more memorable.
Gray, the brains behind the project, said it will be the ‘‘first time you’ve ever seen a square cloud’’.
It will be hung at Hamilton Lake around mid-October.
The inspiration for the shade sail came from two artworks done by Choi + Shine Architects: The Urchins in Singapore and The Lace in Amsterdam.
‘‘They got 50 people to work together which gave me the idea,’’ Gray said.
She recruited 45 people to help with the project, with 20 expressing their interest in the first week through Facebook and Neighbourly.
‘‘It wouldn’t have happened so easily without social media,’’ group administrator Joy Wright said.
‘‘It’s really easy to form a group of like-minded people using the inter- net,’’ Gray added.
Anne Purnell said the project was functional - unlike the ‘‘knitting around lamp posts that some people do’’.
‘‘Kids are going to be out on the playground, they’re going to be shaded, and we’re going to be able to say ‘hey, I did that’.’’
Purnell said crocheting with twine took a bit of getting used to and that it was not an easy medium to work with.
But the ladies have risen above and completed more than 210 squares.
‘‘I’m just so blown away by all of the support that has come from everywhere,’’ Gray said.
The twine was donated by Donaghy’s and the rings by Bunnings Warehouse.
Gray also said the Hamilton City Council were a massive help.
‘‘Everyone we contacted has really embraced it,’’ Wright added.
After the shade sail project, the group has plans to stick together virtually for any future projects they may encounter.
People are encouraged to get photos under the shade sail and post it to the ‘Crochet Crew’s’ Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ cloud.tekapua/