A Woolen Reef

June 17, 2008 4:03 AM

The hyperbolic crochet coral reef has come to London.

" This large-scale, constantly mutating series of handmade crochets replicate the forms of natural coral. The project, organised by the Los Angeles-based Institute For Figuring is a direct response to the plight of coral reef from pollution and global warming. Fusing science and mathematics with fine art and handicraft, the reef is constantly updated by an ever-expanding group of participants from around the world. The Crafts Council in partnership with Southbank Centre. "

posted by chuckdarwin (14 comments total)

"Fusing science and mathematics with fine art and handicraft."

Sounds to me like someone's overheard my dream that one day me and the fiance might get to go to something on a Sunday afternoon that we both like.
posted by Jofus at 4:35 AM on June 17, 2008

Woah - The Institute For Figuring?

"Structural Considerations of the Business Card Menger Sponge"; "The Insect Trilogy: How Flies Fly / The Ecology of a Termite's Gut / What is it Like to be a Spider?"; "Why Things Don't Fall Down"; " Where the Wild Things Are: A Talk about Knot Theory"...

This place sounds almost too cool to be real.
posted by progosk at 5:53 AM on June 17, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

The IFF is based in LA. I wish it was closer to me, since it does indeed sound awesome. The online exhibits include mathematics of origami, which...hello!
posted by DU at 6:07 AM on June 17, 2008

WHOA THIS CROCHET CORAL REEF IS THE COOLEST THING TO HAPPEN TO HUMANITY EVER! IT'S BETTER THAN ELECTRICITY, SANITATION, AND IMPRESSIONISM COMBINED!

/sorry
posted by nasreddin at 6:17 AM on June 17, 2008

I read this post twice and I still don't understand a single fucking thing.
Please advise.
posted by Dizzy at 7:02 AM on June 17, 2008

(Dizzy, the thrust is this: some people crochet really well)
posted by chuckdarwin at 7:28 AM on June 17, 2008

I am in your debt, chuck.
These crocheters-- they're nice people?
posted by Dizzy at 7:36 AM on June 17, 2008

I'm pretty sure they're ruthless murderers.
posted by chuckdarwin at 7:43 AM on June 17, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I'll be in my bong, then.
posted by Dizzy at 8:07 AM on June 17, 2008

A previous thread on the Crocheted Hyperbolic Coral Reef Project and a previous thread on math crafts. This is fascinating, it seems this project has really taken off with contributors from all over the world. I had no idea it had grown so much and was a traveling exhibit - this is cool. Thanks, chuckdarwin!
posted by madamjujujive at 9:16 AM on June 17, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

It's a vast act of sympathetic magic.

I hope it works.
posted by jamjam at 9:20 AM on June 17, 2008

Previously... That was the first post I ever read on Metafilter!
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 10:58 AM on June 17, 2008

madamjujujive rules. That is all.
posted by chuckdarwin at 12:40 PM on June 17, 2008

I've seen takeoffs on this at Maker Faire and elsewhere -- very cool. Makes me wish I was a better crocheter! (Some of the freeform stuff out there is even more complex and amazing than this!)
posted by bitter-girl.com at 5:32 PM on June 17, 2008