I finally got over to see the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef exhibition at the National Museum of Natural History.
I was especially excited to see it because my dear friend, Inga Hamiliton, is a contributor in the exhibition. Not only was it a captivating show, but it was fun to hear delighted children point out upcycled and unusual 'art materials' such as such as plastic bags and pop bottles.
Margaret and Christine Werthiem, created this exhibition that combines the mathematics of hyperbolic geometry with the delicateness of what is traditionally women’s handicraft. It not only displays these artworks, but incorporates an ever-growing social project—teaching others around the world how to crochet hyperbolically and make their own reefs. By working through this process and viewing the art, one can see the correlation between the crocheted reefs and living corals, such as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.Margaret Wertheim recently gave this very cool talk about the project.
