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The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Crochet Artist Olek 'Yarn Bombs' Astor Place Cube

ASTOR PLACE — Guerilla street artist Olek spontaneously struck in Astor Place early Monday, crocheting a cover for the iconic “Alamo” cube sculpture.

The Polish-born artist — who’s created yarn covers for everything from cars and bicycles to the Financial District’s massive “Charging Bull” sculpture — took on the cube early Monday, posting a video of her enveloping the 1967 piece in her signature threads.

Curious passersby stopped to gawk at Olek’s addition Monday morning, snapping photos and running their fingers over the pink, purple, and blue creation.

“I like it very much,” said André Smits, a Rotterdam-based photographer who arranged to shoot the artist in front of the cube Monday afternoon. “You can see from the way people react that it’s an unusual thing.”

While some marveled over how Olek managed to fit the large sculpture in reams of yarn, others talked about it in the context of the larger international “knit-bombing” movement.

“In this case it’s emphasizing an existing work,” said Sheila Meyer, a 42-year resident of the East Village and member of the National NeedleArts Association. “It really makes this area feel vital.”

She added that she liked the intrigue the piece brought to the area for the pedestrians walking by.

“I say, if it brings attention to the knitting community,” Meyer said, “more power to it.”