Crocheted Coral Reef

Crocheted Sea Urchins by Margaret Wertheim

I received a postcard yesterday from The Institute for Figuring. In the past I've attended their lectures on crocheting hyperbolic planes. Now, they are promoting a travelling exhibition for their Crocheted Coral Reef. The coral reef is a fabulous use of crochet stitches and yarn textures. There are more photos here. Next stop for this exhibit is The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, PA.

The Institute for Figuring states, "The Great Barrier Reef, one of the acknowledged wonders of the natural world, stretches along the coast of Queensland, Australia in a riotous profusion of color and form unparalleled on our planet. But global warming and pollutants so threaten this fragile monster, that scientists now believe the reef may be dead in 30 years. In homage to the great one, the Institute For Figuring has undertaken to crochet a handmade reef. This wooly testimony to the disappearing wonders of the marine world duplicates the strange hyperbolic geometry of the oceanic realm."

I really enjoy seeing crochet used for artistic and sculptural purposes.