Perhaps the most wellknown endeavor of the iff is the hyperbolic crochet coral reef project, which is described as a woolly celebration of the intersection of higher geometry and feminine handicraft, and a testimony to the disappearing wonders of the marine world. The crochet coral reef project takes flight from taiminas insight. Margaret wertheim leads a project to recreate the creatures of the coral reefs using a crochet technique invented by a mathematician celebrating the amazements of the reef, and deepdiving into the hyperbolic geometry underlying coral creation. The crochet puff stitch capitalizes on the color to truly create a bumpy and ridged coral reef appearance. Coral reef comfy legwarmers these easy to create basic legwarmers are great for a first project and to help you learn some basic crochet stitches, like the double crochet and foundation double crochet. Yarn bookazine is a precious scheepjes baby published twice a year. Start at the first photo on the top left and proceed clockwise around to the almostcompleted form the first photo in the second row at far left. The museum of arts and design in new york exhibits 10 years of margaret and christine wertheims crochet coral reef environmental. Learn more about the amazing project and enjoy the artwork created. The hyperbolic crochet coral reef has been exhibited in museums and art galleries around the world, including the natural history museum of the smithsonian. It highlights the damage humans do to the earths environment.
On 27 march i will be running a free crochet coral workshop a. How to crochet a coral reefand why scientific american. Instead of sticking to her perfect algorithm, we queer the code by deviating from and elaborating on her pattern. Crochet coral reef, an exhibit on display in the main gallery of the lehigh university art galleries luag, brings together the work of crocheters from around the globe and aims to spark conversations about climate change. Youll be craving a vacation to somewhere with coral reefs in the caribbean or the pacific ocean when you start this pattern. A 10year project to crochet our dying coral reefs hyperallergic. The institute for figuring is raising funds for crochet coral reef. Sponsor this project made possible by funding from the west oxford agricultural society presenter of the fryeburg fair. But it also demonstrates our power for positive action. Crocheting a coral reef for the climate global ideas. The crochet coral reef project, which brings together the work of crocheters from europe to the united states, aims to spark conversations about climate change. The project itself within the institute is the crochet coral reef project. The iffs latest project is perhaps its most beguilingly strange a coral reef constructed entirely by crochet hook, a project that takes advantage of the happy congruence between the mathematical phenomena modeled perfectly by the creatures of the reef, and repetitive tasks such as crocheting which, as it turns out, is perfectly adapted.
Through a process of collective creativity, the project responds to the environmental crisis of global warming and the escalating problem of oceanic plastic trash by highlighting not only the damage humans do to the. And wherever it goes, wertheim encourages the local community to create its own reef. The crochet coral reef project is an epic creation inspired and led by twin sisters margaret and christine wertheim. This is also a oneskein project, so it is easy on the wallet while still producing a sizable and useful crochet piece. This project is a stark reminder that if trends continue, an exhibition like this may someday be the only way for people to experience the beauty of coral reefs. This weekend i got a chance to visit the smithsonian community reef exhibit at the putnam museum in davenport, iowa. The crochet coral reef project resides at the intersection of mathematics, marine biology, handicraft, and community art practice. Iff so far, the workshops have welcomed more than 8,000 people, most of. The crochet coral reef project resides at the intersection of mathematics, marine biology, handicraft and community art practice, and also responds to the environmental crisis of global warming and the escalating problem of oceanic plastic trash. Through a blend of art, mathematics and science, the artists hope their colorful coral figures draw attention to the impact of global warming, rising sea temperatures and. See more ideas about crochet, crochet patterns and crochet projects. Satellites have since been hosted in cities across the u.
Crochet coral reef the idea for crocheting a coral reef has been around for several years. Almost 8,000 people around the world have contributed to making an everevolving archipelago of giant woolen seascapes, which have been exhibited at the hayward gallery, the smithsonian and many other. How two australian sisters channeled their love of stem and coral reefs into the most glorious participatory art project. Now perhaps the worlds largest participatory art and science project, the crochet coral reef combines mathematics, marine biology, environmental consciousnessraising and community art practice. The crochet coral reef project 25 pics twistedsifter. Crochet coral reef melds art and math to highlight. To quote the website, it functions as an intersection of mathematics, marine biology, handicraft and community art practice, and also responds to the environmental crisis of global warming and the escalating problem of oceanic plastic trash. Wertheim says it would be hubristic to claim that her project alone could make.
Crochet coral reef project ann baldwin may art quilts. How to crochet a coral reefand why scientific american blog. Created and curated by christine wertheim and margaret wertheim of the institute for figuring. The uc santa cruz satellite reef is part of the crochet coral reef worldwide reefing project 2005present. A coral reef constructed from yarn science smithsonian. The putnam museum in davenport, ia is borrowing the smithsonian community reef and will have it on display for five years starting august 26, 2011 the smithsonians national museum of natural history, located at 10th street and constitution avenue, nw, in washington, d.
Eight years, five continents, and over 7000 contributors in the making, the crochet coral reef project is ready for a book. With the vintage look of the shell stitches to the stripes of pretty coral. Now at last well have an explanation of all the scientific, mathematical and environmental concepts inherent in the project available in one place, along with a large selection of the beautiful photos weve taken. Uc santa cruz satellite reef, part of the worldwide. Created by sisters margaret and christine wertheim of the institute for figuring, the crochet coral reef resides at the intersection of mathematics, marine biology. Their website has a wealth of information on coral reefs, the threats they face, and the project to create coral reefs from crochet.
The museum of arts and design marks 10 years of margaret and christine wertheims crochet coral reef project, a vibrant response to the destruction of our ocean life. Highlights of the opening of hyperbolic crochet coral reef. The coral reef project is also about environmental activism, because margaret wertheim and her sister began the project to create awareness and make a statement about the vulnerability of coral reefs, especially in the face of global warming. A woolly wonder in march 2010 at the science gallery, trinity college, dublin. The hyperbolic crochet coral reef will arrive in new york in april.
The crochet coral reef project offers a kind of feminist metaphor for how we might approach the problems of global warming through collective action, she said in the interview. The hyperbolic crochet coral reef exhibit at the national museum of natual history closed april 24, 2011. For that reason the project has attracted a wide range of participants, including the harlem knitting circle which arrived. Scientific crochet artists margaret and christine wertheim. Throw this on over your tank top, and you will be set to be both comfortable and stylish. While the crochet coral reef conveys serious messages about the degradation of the marine ecosystem, the sisters also want the reef to be playful and engaging. The wertheim sisters crochet coral reef project is one of the largest participatory art and science endeavor in the world. How to make crochet coral reefs hyberbolic crochet. Now perhaps the worlds largest participatory art and science project, the crochet coral reef combines mathematics, marine biology, environmental. From the crochet coral reef project by margaret and christine wertheim and the institute for figuring. The crochet coral reef is a project created by margaret wertheim and christine wertheim of the institute for figuring, a losangeles based. One of their crochet coral reef displays represents what a sun bleached coral reef would look like. The uc santa cruz satellite reef is on display at the seymour marine discovery center from may 4 november 15, 2017.
The crochet coral reef ccr is a project by the institute for figuring, a nonprofit losangeles based organization that pioneers creative new methods for engaging the public about scientific and environmental issues by putting people and communities at the core the ccr is a project that resides at the intersection of mathematics, marine biology, handicraft and community art practice, and. Crocheted coral reefs raise awareness of real reefs. This crochet blanket almost looks lacy and would work well in any season. By creating giant installations that mimic living coral reefs, crocheted out of yarn and types of plastic, and using algorithms inspired by hyperbolic geometry, the project resides at the intersection of mathematics, science, handicraft, environmentalism and community art. Crochet coral and anemone garden with sea slug by marianne. Started by sisters margaret and christine wertheim of the institute of figuring, the hyperbolic crochet coral reef project has been bringing attention both the beauty and the. Created and curated by margaret and christine wertheim of. From the crochet coral reef project by margaret and christine wertheim. The hyperbolic crochet coral reef exhibit is now on view in natural historys. Corals and sea all in new reef issue of yarn bookazine. A beautifully illustrated book about the art, science, math, and environmentalism of the crochet coral reef project. Responding to anthropogenic crisis, the work simulates living reefs using techniques of crochet to mimic in yarn the curling crenelated forms of actual reef organisms. The institute for figuring began a satellite reef program in 2007 as a way for local communities to participate in its crochet coral reef project 2005present.
This just in from the iff on their latest adventure. I hope the beginners out there enjoy working this pattern. The exhibit first appeared at pittsburghs andy warhol museum in 2007. The artists hope that their colorful coral figures will draw attention to the impact that global warming, rising sea temperatures and pollution have on. The crochet coral reef project will be implemented by west valley college cilker school of art and design in the 1819 academic year.