Katharine Cobey - knitted sculpture

Photo © Katharine Cobey.
Katharine Cobey lives and teaches knitted sculpture in Cushing, Maine. She has long list of laurels spanning a career going back to at least 1985 when she had a studio at The Torpedo Factory.

Her current project is to complete her new book on techniques and sculpture (prospective title) "A Different Slant: Diagonal Knitting with Katharine Cobey". Meanwhile, her work is in the "Fiberarts Design Book 7". The works featured are: "Boat with Four Figures" & "Throw Caution to the Winds". The Fiberarts book is slated to be available this spring.

Cobey says "I believe clothing should comfort the wearer and delight the eye, that simplicity is graceful and enhances our beauty in movement. Quality of materials and loving workmanship reflect my commitment to the meaning and importance of daily life... I think that art is transformation - the taking of a material and making it into another thing. Whether we use oil paints or plastic bags, marble or wool, the challenge is to make significant and expressive forms about the things we use, ourselves and the worlds we live in."

The example of her work shown above is a visual example of her philosophy. The knitted coat, entitled "Slick" is composed of handcut, handknit garbage bags.