Knitta is a Houston-based group of six “guerilla knitters” that has gotten international attention (and gallery exhibitions) for its ‘public art’ work. They knit brightly colored sleeves and mufflers for trees, lampposts, roadsigns, hydrants and subway cars. They’ve repeatedly worked in New York, Seattle, LA and even on the Great Wall of China.

It’s an appealingly simple idea, and the maternal affection and childlike concern for exposed outdoor objects (plus the playful colors) make these items at once amusing, accessible, irreverent and coy (they cover naked limbs). But they also draw in ramifications concerning graffiti and public property (group members remain hidden behind pseudonyms such as PolyCotN and MascuKnitity). I find it revealing that in all the press the group has gotten since their start in August 2005 — including a mention by Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live — no one seems to have settled on a single term for these legwarmers beyond graffiti “tagging” (although specific versions pop up with their own designations, like “antenna cozies.”)

But the real question: Why no appearance in North Texas? The photo shows some of their work in San Antonio. Hey, we get ice storms around here. You just know the legs on the Art&Seek billboard will be shivering.