YARN BOMBERS - OLLI Quarterly Art Showcase   

By Aimee Shramko

Posted:  February 26, 2026

Two of our most visible and well-known OLLI volunteers, Joanne Henning and Kim Thomas, are unabashadly  nuts about knitting. Joanne, who facilitates the wildly popular Special Interest Group, World Tastes, and Kim who is the Volunteer Lead for Class Assistants, are members of a knitting and crocheting  group that meets regularly at the Glendale Adult Center and the Glendale Public Library-Velma Teague Branch.  

Joanne and Kim, best friends and retired teachers, have been wild about wool for 35+ years. They’ve been known to travel to far flung destinations such as Scotland,Ireland, and Iceland with yarn buying ranking high on their travel itinerary and a plus size suitcase in tow to accommodate their haul (and a pledge not to tell their husbands how much money they spent!).

This January, they participated in the fourth annual Downtown Glendale Arts & Culture Fest: Makers, Rhythms, & Rides. The free award-winning event featured over 50 classic cars, lowriders, live music, arts and crafts, and local food vendors at the Glendale Civic Center Plaza. 

Joanne, Kim, and the other members were on hand to share their passion for fiber arts with festival goers and support one of its most talked about activities initiated by the Glendale Knit and Crochet Groups -  the art of yarn bombing, a form of street art.

       Kim on Her Fabulous Festooned Bike               Joanne Celebrates the Yarn Butterfly 

 “Yarn bombing is a type of colorful, temporary street art where knitters and crocheters cover public objects—such as lamp posts, trees, or benches—with fiber installations. Also known as "guerrilla knitting," this creative, non-destructive movement aims to soften, beautify, and add color to cold, urban environments while sparking public joy and engagement. 

It is used to bring color to mundane, grey urban landscapes, make political statements, or raise awareness for causes.  Participants, often called "knit-knotters" or "yarn bombers," create knitted or crocheted sleeves and panels and sew them onto objects like poles, statues, or bicycles.  Unlike traditional spray-paint graffiti, yarn bombs are designed to be temporary, lasting only a few weeks or months before being removed by weather or, occasionally, authorities. The movement gained popularity as a form of street art, with early examples including work by Magda Sayeg in the mid-2000s. Commonly "bombed" items include trees, poles, statues, benches, and bike racks.” 

Kim tells us “This project is a group effort with yarn enthusiasts of all ages who have come together for 3 years to make this all possible.  We have formed a group of knitters and crocheters, but, more importantly, we have formed friendships that make it a truly wonderful experience.”  

If you are interested in joining the Glendale Knit and Crochet groups, contact the Glendale Public Library visit their website at: https://library.glendaleaz.gov/Home.  Or the AdultCenter at: Recreation/Facilities-Centers/Glendale-Adult-Center

Photos Courtesy of Joanne Henning and Kim Thomas

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