A good yarn

Eureka Springs entangled in discussion of art

Art has been an eye-ofthe-beholder experience ever since Grog first etched an image onto the walls of the cave.

Mere seconds after that first work was completed, we’re told, Atouk squinted his eyes as he examined Grog’s drawing. “I don’t get it,” he grunted.

The world’s first art critic, maybe?

Flash forward a few years to a quirky little spot in the Arkansas Ozarks known as Eureka Springs. It’s a place where expression through art — especially art that sells — is embraced. But even in a town known for its seven-story concrete statue of the Prince of Peace, conflict has been known to break out.

The latest reminder of art’s potential to provoke arises from the unlikeliest medium: yarn.

In Eureka Springs for the last few years, artist — or would that be yarnist? — Gina Gallina has crocheted colorful wraps around trees in conjunction with various events. She and others known as the Eureka Yarn Bombs recently began installing the wraps in Eureka Springs Music Park as part of the May Festival of the Arts.

An earlier outdoor exhibit apparently needled someone who didn’t really get the point. Crocheted artwork from six trees disappeared in August and police recently questioned a 31-year resident who acknowledged hating the comfy wraps that envelop pieces of nature. But she denied any connection to the destruction. Lest anyone think this is just a tale keeping the community in stitches, local police have put up a surveillance camera on the new tree wraps, which are on city property with permission. “We are just trying to deter anyone from vandalizing any of the park or city property,” said Police Chief Thomas Achord.

If someone has to be prosecuted, any video captured will obviously help prevent the case from unraveling.

All this just adds to the lore of Eureka Springs, where oddity is as much of the town’s character as anything.

A lot of communities are trying to embrace art, whether it’s public sculptures or murals or musical performances in the least likely of places. Eureka Springs’ latest contribution to the discussion reflects how being a community that embraces art isn’t easy because, sooner or later, the “art” is going raise someone’s hackles.

To tie this all up, we’re reminded what an old editor used to tell us: Nothing worthwhile comes without a few headaches.