Fresh yarn decorates the bike racks outside Berkeley’s North Branch Library. Photo: Streetcolor
Fresh yarn decorates the bike racks outside Berkeley’s North Branch Library. Photo: Streetcolor

Some stories do have happy endings. Readers may remember in April when something of a brouhaha erupted over the “yarnbombing” of a bicycle rack outside Berkeley’s North Branch Library.

Local yarnbomber Streetcolor had decorated the circular racks before the grand reopening of the library, but the knitting was removed by librarians concerned over the distraction it might cause when they wanted all attention to be focused on the beautifully remodeled building.

Donna Corbeil, Director of Library Services, said at the time that it was  important for the community to experience “the completed project fully, without anything covered up or altered since it was the grand reopening.”

She also added, however, that the library would be glad to talk to the anonymous street artist about putting the yarn back up at a future date.

That day arrived on Saturday when Streetcolor and a friend reinstalled the yarn on the racks. “I thought about how many Berkeleyside readers had commented about how the yarnbombing gets dirty and faded,” she said. “I suggested that the library pick a date that I could install the yarnbombing and also pick a date and I would take it back down so the work stayed clean and bright.”

Streetcolor was pleased with the library’s collaborative attitude and the timing, as it is International Yarnbombing Day today. “This was my contribution to that worldwide yarnbombing celebration,” she said.

Related:
Berkeley library not thrilled about yarnbombing [04.09.12]
Never let it be said that Berkeley doesn’t love its libraries [04.09.12]

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Tracey Taylor is co-founder of Berkeleyside and co-founder and editorial director of Cityside, the nonprofit parent to Berkeleyside and The Oaklandside. Before launching Berkeleyside, Tracey wrote for...