Crochet Coral Reef: A Project by the Institute For Figuring
DIY Craft Fiber Arts Environmental Art Mathematics in Art Eco-Activism Textile Art Educational Art Community Art Projects
Crochet Coral Reef: A Project by the Institute For Figuring is the lavish, full-color handbook that grew out of the world-famous eco-art movement in which thousands of crafters used humble crochet hooks to build sprawling, scientifically accurate coral “reefs.” Part coffee-table art book, part DIY textbook, it pairs striking gallery photography of the Wertheim sisters’ traveling reef installations with crystal-clear patterns and tutorials so readers can start stitching their own hyperbolic, ruffled coral forms. The result is a rare hybrid: a visually breathtaking celebration of contemporary fiber art and a practical manual for anyone who wants to join the global community of reef-makers.
What makes this 2015 paperback special is the way it weaves together art, environmental science, and handicraft. Each chapter explains the mathematical concept of hyperbolic geometry—nature’s own code for coral growth—then translates that geometry into simple crochet instructions. Curious about why coral frills look the way they do? Wondering how a ball of yarn can model a living reef? The Wertheims answer with lively essays, interviews with participating artists, and close-up photos of every stage, from first chain stitch to final reef “specimen.” Beginners will appreciate the step-by-step diagrams; experienced crocheters will relish the advanced forms and the invitation to invent new species.
Beyond the patterns, the book documents a socially engaged art phenomenon that has activated museums, universities, and community centers on five continents. Readers discover how local groups adapt the project to spotlight their own endangered marine ecosystems, turning living-room stitch sessions into powerful statements about climate change and ocean conservation. Owning this copy—clean, tight, and unmarked save for one faintly scuffed page corner—means holding the definitive record of an ongoing, ever-growing collaborative artwork that anyone with a hook and a skein of yarn can still join today.
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