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Crochet Coral Reef Intertwines Art, Science and Community

 

Over the past four months a community of over 250 Adelaide crafters have produced the RiAus Adelaide Reef – a coral reef made entirely of crochet.
 
The community of crafters has grown, with experienced artists passing their skills on to beginners in a truly collaborative effort at a series of workshops around Adelaide.
 
To celebrate this achievement RiAus will launch the RiAus Adelaide Reef, a highlight of the Adelaide Science-Art Trail, at the Science Exchange at 6pm on Thursday 4 August as part of the SALA Festival 2011 and National Science Week.
 
Co-curated by Melinda Rackham and Julie Walker, the RiAus Adelaide Reef is a satellite of the worldwide Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef project created by Margaret and Christine Wertheim of the Institute for Figuring in Los Angeles.
 
“The project has deepened my respect for creative community practices and renewed my hope that we can work towards a sustainable planet,” said Dr Rackham.
 
Demonstrating the intrinsic relationship between art and science, the Reef incorporates the mathematical principles of hyperbolic space whilst raising awareness of environmental science.
 
In response to both the natural beauty of marine environments and the escalating crisis of pollution and oceanic waste, the Reef has four parts: the riotously beautiful coloured reef and green reef which pay homage to the natural splendour of coral colonies, whilst the toxic reef comprises predominately recycled plastics and the elegiac white or ‘bleached’ reef serves as a reminder of the destruction humans have caused.
 
Concurrent with this message, many of the materials used in the creation of the Reef were recycled and repurposed. Crochet hooks were taken to donated wool, yarn, electrical cables, wire, string, rope, plastic bags, even old video and audio tapes to produce a masterpiece of creative community crafting.
 
“The generous response to our request for donations of yarn and other textiles has been overwhelming,” said Reef Project Manager Cherry Greenslade. 
 
“These contributions have inspired our artists to experiment with different materials and stitches and take our reef far beyond all expectations.”
 
Participants in the project were joined at the Reef workshops by speakers from the SA Museum, Reef Watch and SA Water during the creation of the Reef.

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