A gigantic knitted cardy took centre stage recently as Macclesfield College student Jean Westbrook, stepped onto a 7 meter high plinth in London wearing her striped creation.
When given the topic ‘The Human Condition’ as the basis for her Creative Arts for Employment Foundation Degree project Jean set to work knitting the comfy woollen cardigan which symbolises the body armour and masks people wear just to avoid talking about certain topics – the so-called ‘elephants in the room’. Jean, who has been knitting for nearly 50 years, took less than a month to create the gigantic cardigan, but it used up a massive 60 balls of wool.
 |
| The 5ft wide cardigan on display at Macclesfield College |
Once completed Jean’s creation was put on display at Macclesfield College’s end of year art show before being taken to London to appear as part of the famous artist Antony Gormley’s ‘One and Other’ art project. Jean was selected as one of the lucky 2,400 members of the public to appear as a living monument, from a massive 33,000 applicants. Jean stepped onto the empty plinth in Trafalgar Square sporting her cardigan, and danced to the David Bowie track ‘The Jean Genie’ whilst wearing it. She later symbolically shed her ‘comfort clothing’ to represent the meaning of her project.
 |
| Jean meets the artist Antony Gormley |
Jean commented: ‘Everybody smiles when they see it, and I am very proud of it. We have actually had 6 people in it and I am hoping that when the Guinness Book of Records officials come to measure it they will confirm that it has made it into the record books as the largest cardigan ever made!’ About studying for a Foundation Degree she added: ‘We have a really good time at College, I love being a mature student, it’s brilliant!’
For more details on the Foundation Degrees starting at Macclesfield College this September see www.macclesfield.ac.uk, call 01625 410002.
 |
| Jean preparing to step onto the plinth wearing her creation |
