Poppy Field "Yarn Bomb" in Jamestown, RI

Unexpectedly finding public art is an especially joyful experience.  This unique installation by Eileen Travers next to the Jamestown Windmill at the Historical Society really got me smiling while I was on a sunrise shoot.

“Yarn bombing” is most often done on a wall or fence or an object like a tree.   My sister Laura Evans Durant was the first to bring the idea to my attention. 

Travis’ Poppy Field is unusual because it’s a 20’ x 40’ yarn bombing piece displayed just above the ground.  I couldn’t help wondering how the ground underneath was altered.  Were there critters hiding under there? How did the field grasses respond to all of the shade? What happens when it rains?

This choice of flower was inspired by Flanders Field in Belgium, where poppies flourished in the devastation of the battle fields after World War 1.  Poppies have been a symbol of remembrance and hope since World War 1. John McRae’s beautiful poem, “In Flanders Field” is one of the principal reasons this floral symbol persists.

Revitalizing the poppy as a symbol of remembrance and hope felt an appropriate and timely tribute to Travis, in response to the intense and far reaching impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

ABOUT THE ARTIST: from the Jamestown Arts Center website:

“Eileen Travis is a large scale crochet artist who loves to create work inspired by nature in yarn. At a young age, she was lucky to have both grandmothers teach her how to crochet, which nourished a lifelong love of fiber arts. Eileen is an avid gardener and licensed Landscape Architect, based in Poughkeepsie NY.

Eileen’s art is inspired by the beauty of the natural environment around us. So it was logical that any artwork that she creates reflects both of these passions. Eileen likes to create things that are interactive, bring joy and inspiration.”