Its Over!

Well, it's over! I can't believe it! There is such a let-down when a great project is completed. This project has given me that feeling twice. The first was when everything was turned in and ready for the installation. This is the second time-it is gone now! I can't drive to Tempe and see it any more. I can't send anyone to see the beauty that all those pieces of crochet created.

The count of visitors was over 18,000 people! I hope that all of them found something moving about the exhibit. Every time I was there, people would wonder about it and make such insightful comments. That part has been very rewarding.

So now, I wait and watch http://www.theiff.org/ for the next exhibitions and pictures from them.

If you are ever in the position to help the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Project, PLEASE take advantage of it!!!! You will be well rewarded; both in your crafting and in your understanding of the earth and our role in the life of everything on it.

Margaret Wertheim speaks

I love to listen to Margaret Wertheim. She is interesting and makes things simple to understand. I have heard her speak 3 times now and I still enjoy it.

Here is a short speach she gave at TED. This is interesting because it helps to explain the HYPERBOLIC CROCHET CORAL REEF and the mathematicls behind it.

This is just over 16 minutes long. Let me know what you think about it.

The PLARN Class

Thursday night there was a class at the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Exhibit about how to crochet a tote bag out of plastic bags. This class will be held the last Thursday of the month during the exhibit (April, May, June) at 6 pm in the Gallery@ the Library at the exhibit. You will learn how to turn your plastic bags into PLARN (plastic yarn) and then you will have help to start crocheting the plarn into a tote bag following a pattern provided.

Last night I was so busy that I didn't remember to take pictures until a few people had already left. But I did get those who were still there. It was a good group last night; some who had crocheted, some who hadn't, we even had a mother & daughter come together. Some Picked it up easily, others struggled. But everyone learned how to make the bags into plarn and got a start on their tote bags.

Some that attenede will finish their bags, regardless of how they look. But I worry about others who were really struggling! I wish I could help them more often because they will feel such a sense of accomplishment if they finish. If the plarn is too difficult, switch to yarn and use the same pattern. BUT JUST FINISH SOMETHING!!




Bye, Emily. We will miss you. Have fun on the farm! Crochet something while you are gone.

In hopes of encouraging all of you to finish, I am posting links to some How-to-crochet video tutorials.

How to hold the yarn & hook : http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Crochet-Part-4---How-to-Hold-The-Thread--Needle-77390651

How to chain stitch : http://www.nexstitch.com/v_chain_stitch.html

Doing the Hdc : http://www.nexstitch.com/v_half_double_crochet.html

Left-handed crochet : http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-crochet-a-left-handed-crochet-chain-217461/

Left-handed Hdc : http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-crochet-a-left-handed-half-double-crochet-217453/

How to make Plarn : http://planetmfiles.com/2008/09/06/how-to-make-plarn/

GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU!

The Opening Reception

The showing has begun! It's both exhilarating and a let-down. I have to go back (many times) to get pictures of the best areas.

A view from above.
Myself with Margaret & Christine Wertheim

The Trash Vortex (all from plastic bags)

The Scottsdale People's Reef. The largest single People's Reef to date.

One of the Hyperbolic fashions made just for the opening.

Installation progress

Installation

Today was another play day for me. Well, if you count sewing felt around baskets playing.

I was able to go over to the Scottsdale Civic Center Library and watch the beginning of the installation of the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef. They were only installing the “People’s Reef”, which is about one fourth of the whole exhibit. This reef was made by crafters in Chicago & New York. There is more to the “People’s Reef”, but this is all they could fit in with our space. The “Scottsdale Reef” will become part of the “People’s Reef” after the Arizona Exhibit and will travel with it as space allows.

See the boxes in the background? This is what the “People’s Reef” was packed in. Amazing!
Diana, with a funny face.

Here is Wendy contemplating how things look and what needs adjusting.

A view from the level above the Gallery. The rest of the room will be filled with crocheted pieces.

You can see what Robin & I did by her feet. We sewed felt around baskets so that pieces can be attached to them easily.

These are pictures of pieces or groups of pieces.

Realize that each square foot has at least 10-15 pieces in it.

Scottsdale Arts Festival

Last weekend was the Scottsdale Arts Festival. I worked on Friday afternoon. Here are some pictures of crocheters and our tent.

Our tent was next to the "LOVE" sculpture. I think it is a requirement to have your picture taken at least once in your life with this sculpture.

Here is a very tiny part of what the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef with look like. Most of the pieces on top were done by me. I felt that people had to be able to touch it in order to really experience it.


Eventually all of us kicked off our shoes and enjoyed the grass! Call it "Nature Therapy".

A Letter From Margaret

Dear All

I am writing because we have received emails from concerned Reefers and Crafters in NYC about a project that is being undertaken by ABC Carpet and Home in Manhattan. ABC is a large company that manufactures carpets.

In recent days they have announced on craft blogs and sites that they are crocheting a coral reef to exhibit in their storefront windows on Broadway. They are calling for crafters throughout NY area to get involved in this "community project" and make their Reef happen by April (next month).

Their announcements make no reference to the IFF and our long-standing Crochet Reef project. Nor do they acknowledge that there already is a NY Reef that has been exhibited at two NYC window-front locations - at Broadway Windows (NYU) and the beautiful Winter Garden at World Financial Center. Lion Brand Yarns - a major yarn manufacturer - are also getting behind the ABC project and have donated hundreds of balls of yarn. All this is being done as a kind of corporate raiding. ABC contacted me several weeks ago and asked about showing the whole Reef Project. An ABC executive had seen my talk about the project at the recent TED conference and was deeply impressed with the Reef. Instead, they have taken the idea and decided they can do it on their own. They are claiming it is their idea.

Christine and I would like you all to know that we do not sanction this project and we resist this usurping by a commercial company. ABC are also attempting to take crafters for a ride - they asking artist "volunteers" to give their skill and their time freely to promote a commercial company. The IFF is a tiny organization and we have little power to intervene in this effort legally, but we believe the power lies with the craft community. We urge all of you who can to send out word on the craft blogs and website to resist ABC's enterprise.

In one way this event is heartening: it highlights the power and value of the Crochet Reef Project. If a large company like ABC feels it is worth taking there must be something truly worthwhile here. We believe there is and I am happy to announce that the Reef has been formally invited to show at the Smithsonian. It is the first time the Natural History Museum will show an art project - so it's a huge honor. It is also with great joy that we can say that in addition to the already existing NY Reef, Chicago Reef, and UK Reef, there are now community-based Satellite Reefs coming into being Scottsdale Arizona, Sydney Australia, in Latvia and in Toronto. The project continues to grow virally. [Information about all these Reefs will be up soon on the IFF website.] Christine and I are always happy to work with genuine community groups on the project, but it is not to be done for commercial purposes and we encourage all crafters Not to participate in ABC's endeavor.

with best wishes
Margaret Wertheim
Co-creator of the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef

Margaret Wertheim
Institute For Figuring
PO Box 50346
Los Angeles CA 90050
323.256.5641
www.theiff.org
mail@theiff.org