THE CROCHET CORAL REEF At The Andy Warhol Museum

THE CROCHET CORAL REEF
At The Andy Warhol Museum

 “6 Billion Perps Held Hostage! Artists Address Global Warming”
March 11 – June 17, 2007

The Institute For Figuring is proud to announce our  participation in
 “6 Billion Perps Held Hostage! Artists Address Global Warming,” an exhibition at The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh.

Opening Reception: Saturday March 10, 7-10pm
Opening Night Artist’s Talk by IFF Director Margaret Wertheim: 6pm

One of the acknowledged wonders of the natural world, the Great Barrier Reef 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, IFF co-directors Margaret and Christine Wertheim have instigated a project to crochet a handmade reef. This woolly testimony to the disappearing wonders of the marine world celebrates also an unexpected intersection of feminine handicraft and a strange geometry that is realized throughout the oceanic realm.

Using the techniques of hyperbolic crochet discovered by Dr. Daina Taimina, the Wertheim sisters (who grew up in Queensland) have been evolving a taxonomy of reef-life forms. Tightly bunched mounds of brain coral, towered spires of pillar coral, bouquets of carnation coral, open-mouthed anemones, and wavy strands of kelp have all been successfully mimicked in wool. At the Andy Warhol Museum, the Institute For Figuring will present three taxonomically distinct sub-reefs from the overall project – on display will be the Crochet Coral and Anemone Garden, the Branched Anemone Garden, and the Kelp Garden.

ARTIST’S TALK: On Saturday March 10, IFF Director Margaret Wertheim will present a talk on the Crochet Coral Reef Project, including a brief history of hyperbolic space, its realization in reef organisms (both woolly and organic), threats to marine life, and the incipient spread of the Rubbish Vortex.

WORKSHOP: On Sunday March 11, the IFF will present a workshop on hyperbolic crochet introducing the techniques pioneered by Dr Daina Taimina. Experienced crocheters and beginners alike are welcome. Instruction will be given in crochet basics.

SUBREEFS ON DISPLAY at The Andy Warhol Museum:

“Crochet Coral and Anemone Garden”
by Margaret, Christine and Barbara Wertheim, with sea slug by Marianne Midelburg and shells by Sarah Simons.

“Branched Anemone Garden”
by Christine and Margaret Wertheim with Helen Bernasconi, Shari Porter and Lynn Latta.

“Kelp Garden”
by Margaret and Christine Wertheim with Sarah Simon, and brain coral by Karen Frazer.

All events take place at:

The Andy Warhol Museum
117 Sandusky Street
Pittsburgh PA 15212
412.237.8361
www.warhol.org

This project has been assisted by grants from the Annenberg Foundation and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

For more information about the Crochet Coral Reef see here.