Q&A: Artist and Cancer Survivor Pam Witte

Pam Witte will be showing off her knitted monsters exhibit at the Pool Art Center this Friday

What is it that you do?

I like to think of it as knitted artwork, or fabric self-expression. They're little monsters made out of yarn. I do boy monsters, girl monsters, zombies, squids, and other types.

When did you start knitting monsters?

I was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, and as I was recovering from surgery, I had nothing to do because I couldn't really move around a lot. I've always been a knitter, so I thought I'd try making dolls.

How did the dolls become monsters?

Well, knitting dolls was really hard. I modified the process so that it wasn't so hard. But then, the result didn't really look like a doll. I thought I should add something, so I added horns and dangly arms and legs with some colorful yarn. I got better at it and then started making more and more.

Was it your intent to sell the monsters?

It started out just as something to pass the time. Then a friend of mine stopped by my apartment and asked me, "Why aren't you selling these?" I though, "Oh, who's going to want these?" But I took about fifteen of them to the Springfield Little Theater where my friend and I both volunteer, and I sold them all!

Of course, everyone at the theater knew me, and they knew it was to help me pay my bills after the surgery, but people kept asking for more. Kids would ask me to make one for them because their brother or sister got one.

But because of those monsters, I was able to buy groceries– after I was in the hospital for two weeks, my employer let me go. I had no income, no insurance, no savings. There were some fundraisers to help me out, but it was really the monsters that kept me afloat. I've probably made almost 400. I sell them for $20 each, but I also give some of them away– I sometimes feel silly charging people for them, so maybe if they buy four I'll say "And here's two more!" I have a full time job now, but I still make and sell monsters.

What will your gallery at the Pool Art Center be like?

Just tons of monsters! I'm not actually sure what the exhibit will be like; Paige Deragowski, who does a lot of work at the Little Theater, emailed me asking if I wanted my monsters to be a part of First Friday Art Walk. Paige was very excited about the exhibit, but she didn't tell me exactly what it was going to be like.

Just a note: Pam's monsters will be available for sale while they are on display.