Not your grandmother's handywork...

Warped visions in the needle arts. Dept. of who woulda thunk, pt. 1: two gigantic John Deere excavators have what look like oversized lances attached to them: these are the knitting needles. A guy in a cherry picker loops the yarn -- oversize strips of acrylic felt -- over one lance to start off, the other needle advances and he transfers the thread: a knitted American flag is under way. Really, you have to see it to believe it; process is crutial. Dave Cole's "The Knitting Machine" video is right next to the maquette, which resembles jousting toys. "These machines were so beautiful. And we got to play with them. For like two weeks. I have the coolest job." This artist rules--I'm laughing just writing this. Howling! Don't miss his knitted lead teddy bear. Hefty, toxic: contradictory. And now, the "Money Dress." That's right, singles sliced into 1/8" strips and knitted into a low-backed gown, size 8. How punk rock. Cole again: "I want to make art that will stand up to critical dissection, but at the same time is accessible to anyone who takes the time to look at it. I'm tired of art that makes people feel bad because they don't understand it." Bravo. Insightful, erudite, brilliant--this artist needs NY representation.
The other standout in this show is Cal Lane, who cuts steel like paper. She takes her intractable medium and, with infinite patience and precision, cuts doilies out of it. Her "Filigree Car Bombing" is a John Chamberlain via heirloom lace. Masculine/feminine, yin/yang, a fascinating juxtaposition. As stunning as it is unexpected.
Dept of oh holy shit: a pair of knitted gloves to fit, maybe, a mouse. Matches a pullover, both have designs echoing ancient Greek urns. Althea Merback makes garments to 1/12 scale, using stainless steel medical wire (.001") as needles. (Talk about extreme knitting.) A delight and a wonder. Something about absurdity, and in miniature too, cracks me up.

Radical Lace & Subversive Knitting, at MAD (awful acronym for Museum of Arts and Design)
40 E. 53 st.
212-956-3535
through June 17
www.madmuseum.org
www.theknittingmachine.com
www.callane.com
www.bugknits.com
(those last three because the museum's site sucks.)

I mean this with all the love, but imagine mice really
wearing Merback's creations--with their paws properly
covered, you wouldn't hear them scurrying around the
house. They could preen, and squeak, in front of your
mirror and admire themselves in their new duds. Rodent
Runway.