Warwick’s woolly tree tradition

July 26th found me venturing back to the city of Warwick on the Darling Downs where the eleven year-old Jumpers & Jazz in July Festival was in full swing. Yes, it was swinging to sounds of jazz. Jazz resonated through the streets, the cafes, the restaurants, and pubs and clubs. Not only the sounds but the real live performers were everywhere. Locals and visitors wandered along the streets amazed at the energies reflected in the ‘jumpers’ on the deciduous trees.

This festival has been described as “quirky”, “fun”, “crazy” as well as by many other expressions.

I felt extremely proud as I wandered up and down Palmerin Street taking in the amazing variety of tree jumpers, reading the didactics giving the title and the identity of the creator(s).

Proud? Yes, for me it was satisfying to be greeted by people whom I knew in Warwick eleven years ago when I was the Director of the Warwick Regional Art Gallery. The greetings went like this, “Audrey, what do you think about what you started?”

When, in early 2004 I felt it important to address the great divisions in the community over the expensive streetscape development; I knitted a jumper for a deciduous tree in my garden.

Did I have the courage to take the concept of the generation of a textile art exhibition on the trees to keep their bare branches warm in winter? “Nothing ventured – nothing gained”.

So, after an approach to the Mayor came an approach to a full Council meeting. Of course they thought the idea rather crazy but gave their approval assuming that it would be a one- off event. A small committee joined me in the planning and adding jazz to the plan. How were we to financially support such an event? Most Palmerin Street traders were uncooperative but my application to RADF for $5000 to commission five artists to create sculptures to mount on the big palm trees by the Town Hall was successful.

I had often benefited from art workshops so we included a couple on the 2004 program. We invited Jude Skeers, knitting guru, to teach. Jude taught various innovative knitting techniques including how to knit a web. The gallery continues to generate textile workshops aspart of the festival. These foster new techniques which give skills which can be used to create more tree jumpers.

Knitter Margaret Armstrong won the major prize this year and has generated a jumper for “her” tree every year of the festival.

If you have never experienced the delights of Jumpers & Jazz in July in Warwick, consider a few days on The Downs next year!

Have you ever been to Warwick? What do you think about these decorative jumpers? Has your town done something similar?

This article was sent in by Audrey Hoffman who was key to the founding of the Jumpers and Jazz festival 11 years ago.